Summary

British lawmakers approved the first stage of a bill to legalize assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales, with a 330-275 vote after an emotional parliamentary debate.

The bill allows adults with less than six months to live to request help to end their lives, subject to safeguards, including self-administration of lethal drugs.

Supporters emphasize dignity and reduced suffering, while critics warn of risks to vulnerable individuals and call for improved palliative care.

The government remains neutral, and public protests highlight deep societal divides over the issue.

  • masterofn001@lemmy.ca
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    14 days ago

    Watching your father wither away, starving and shitting out his insides, hallucinations, ungodly pain, bloody catheters, for weeks and weeks knowing he would die, because he was catholic and opposed to this (we have this in Canada) was traumatic for everyone involved.

    I would not put anyone I cared about through the same. I would not put myself through it.

    He was a dignified man. There was no dignity in his prolonged suffering.

    There is no reason why anyone shouldn’t have a choice in living or dying.

    It’s their life.

    The option was available for my father. He chose suffering because of religious beliefs.

    But he was able to chose.

    That’s the point.

    • clockwork_octopus@lemmy.world
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      14 days ago

      I’m so sorry for your loss. And you’re right on both counts, there is no dignity in suffering, but I’m glad he was able to make his choice too.

      • masterofn001@lemmy.ca
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        13 days ago

        Thank you.

        There were moments of levity. He was always a bit mischievous in a fun way - dad humour, you know.

        He wasn’t allowed to drink - had to suck from a sponge.

        He pretended to be super duper dying a few times so he could have a drink of Coke.

        It’s weird laughing your ass off and crying at the same time.