I know there have been very similar threads in the past on this forum. But events are getting towards legislation in England and (today) in Scotland. So this is very much in the news.
Coincidentally I was speaking to my Dutch neighbour last week. On Thursday he told me that his older brother would die the next day. That is conversation stopping. His brother lives in Canada where planned euthanasia is well established, within strict rules. He is Dutch, where planned euthanasia is well established. His brother is over 80. Was over 80. He had been diagnosed with early signs of dementia. He had also been diagnosed as needing major heart surgery with no promise of a successful outcome.
I very much hope that Holyrood and Westminster put into the law the right to determine one’s own demise, in dignity, with minimum suffering.
https://www.itv.com/news/border/2026-03-17/scottish-parliament-to-vote-on-assisted-dying-legislation
I saw this on the news and couldn’t bear to watch. I find it very upsetting because I feel many sick or old people will be encouraged to go for assisted dying because they feel a burden or because their loved ones want them to go sooner rather than later.
I know two people who have recently taken advantage (not sure if that is the right word) of this legislation in NSW
Both had a terminal illness with less than six months to live, both were in pain. One had a wake immediately before the doctors arrived to administer the drugs.
I think it would be very hard to force someone to do this apart from anything else you need two doctors to certify the plan
It gets very complicated when the person in question is depressed, feels they are a financial burden etc. Will be a tick box exercise for professionals ref two needed for sign off. You need two professionals for all sorts of life changing decisions but the implementation of such rules becomes trivial over the long term. I think this is a case of be careful what you wish for
A one-way ticket to hell for all participants. It’s hot there, very warm.
I found it saddening and disappointing that the Scottish parliament has rejected assisted dying. Having witnessed relatives go through long, unnecessary and wasteful “natural” dying the option to throw in the towel at the point life is not worth living is surely the most humane thing to have available. Other countries seem to have put this in place with suitable safe guards against the imagined abuse. I’d be bleedin’ livid if I got to a point where the inevitable was painful, uncomfortable, drawn out exit without my preference of going to sleep not allowed. It is my body, my life and surely should be my choice.
If you had seen my dad dying of cancer, and becomming in ,the last few days, a living skeleton with no strength to even open his mouth. Like me you would be in favour of assisted dying without even questioning. It was so hard seeing him like this thoughts went through my mine ,
I too watched my father suffer greatly before dying back in the 90s.
They do already have a form of assisted dying, doctors do it every day. They turn off life support or administer increasing doses of morphine etc. The problem with putting this into the hands of ordinary people is the risk of self interest abuse to the very vulnerable and the link between depression and suicidal ideation.
Although other countries have successfully implemented, there is a recognition that Britain does not have the systems to ensure every decision is ethical and really the wish of the individual who wishes to die. You can just see the lawsuits that would ensue.
I think people who assist someone who is desperately suffering should not be treated harshly by courts, but at the same time we don’t have the resources or ability to police this type of legal change.
At the same time end of life care in Britain is dire considering how sophisticated and wealthy the country is.
Why do you think the decision making and approvals would not involve professional medical people such as doctors and psychologists? Why claim it will be in the hands of ordinary people? If by ordinary people you mean the person who wishes to be end their life - see below.
I cannot see why other countries can establish ethical decision making systems but the UK cannot. What is the inherent aspect of the UK that is stopping such a system here?
In addition, the example I gave in the opening post was a decision to end one’s life before end of life care had even begun. It was in anticipation of lots of problems, huge reduction in independence, most probably severe health issues, at best a long, long recovery from a major operation - all the while descending into dementia. At 80 it seems a fine and logical decision to ask to duck out now. Who has the arrogance to feel able to prevent that decision and impose their morality on this individual? Who is truly best placed to determine what is the best decision for that individual? Answer - that would surely be the individual themselves - the ordinary person most affected by events, circumstances and decisions.
I’ve seen such 2 professional type decisions being made in a secure mental health unit, it’s a tick box, people become widgets rather than human beings. You have to see it in action to understand how expendable ethics become. The systems governing this type of decision are never perfect. But particularly so in Britain.
We have a far larger population, systems already under huge strain to try to deliver services that are essential and certainly trying to amass so many psychiatrists would be incredibly expensive and put a strain on the mental health service that is already sorely stretched. So this would end up being no more than an extra task for mental health professionals and poorly done.
Places like Switzerland have a small population in comparison, great organisation and easier implementation of rules just because they have a less complex society.
I totally agree with you and others that individuals should have the right to end their own unnecessary suffering, but we are not in a position to implement that legally because of the constraints due to our systems and because there would be a massive risk to the individual being taken advantage of or being motivated by their burden on others to end their own life early. This is of course a major ethical debate which many quite rightly feel strongly about. I think they should simply decriminalise some of the tragic cases we see of those who end up helping someone who is desperate. But I can’t see the current systems we have being able to cope with this type of legal change. People should be allowed to travel elsewhere e.g. Switzerland without being treated as criminals. But of course it’s highly complex knowing who has the upper hand in such arrangements, the individual or those who have an interest in the assets of the individual.
I couldn’t bear to watch .
I suppose as long as nobody is made to feel a medical burden or coerced into taking the assisted option .
In the last few years I’ve been extremely poorly , but look at me now with holidays planned , gym ,10k steps a day . I’m Loving life .
There were times when I felt hopeless.
I watched my partner waste away and die. I think people don’t really get to talk about stuff like this unless it happens to them - and no, parents are very different, they are usually expected to die before their kids, but a partner hits WAY more.
You lose your support system, your best friend, your lover and soulmate all in one. He lost all his muscle and most of his fat, became like a skeleton.
He wasn’t terminally ill - but refused medical care so died of pneumonia. A form of assisted dying in a way, although I kept asking him to go to the doctor but either he thought his illness was normal ageing - it was obvious to me it wasn’t and I told him he was dying - or didn’t care. Not sure which.
With all that, I am pro assisted dying for those who don’t want to go on, be it terminal illness or something else. It’s not an easy decision, and doctors have to agree, but people already die in horrible painful ways already (like a friend of mine who stepped in front of a train)…this seems way more humane.
People should have the choice how they life and how they die.
Totally agree with this Annie.
I’ve seen it in action and thought it was the right decision.
I have no issue with anyone taking their own life, but it’s totally wrong to ask someone else to make that decision.
You’re supposed to tough it out so you don’t go downstairs. (Hell)
They are not asking someone else to make the decision, the sick person makes the decision, the doctors merely facilitate it.
This really shows how deeply personal and complex the issue is.
Dignity and compassion should always be at the heart of such decisions.
Not in every case Bruce… 
And how long before the doctors and family members make the ultimate decision…
Thin end of the wedge.
There’s nothing wrong with the system the way it is now.
It shouldn’t be made a law, how many more laws do we need?
Perhaps read how another country sets out the rules for medical assistance in dying - such as Canada. Your speculation above seems very wrong.
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-services-benefits/medical-assistance-dying.html
As I understand it the folks going to hell will include the doctor, nurse, the receptionist and of course all of the family members that encouraged him or her. Oh yeah, him or her too.
I think you are making problems where none exist OGF, the legislation has a lot of safeguards including residentiary and age provision as well as life expectancy.
Several other safeguards were considered and included in the legislation in NSW (other states have similar regulations but with differences for example in some states the dose must be administered by the patient themselves).
- The patient can stop or pause the VAD process at any moment without reason
- Three separate requests to end their life must be made
- Each decision must be made without pressure, influence or coercion
- A family member or friend cannot make the request on a patient’s behalf
- The patient must be given information about their diagnosis, prognosis, treatment options and palliative care during the process
- Medical practitioners involved must have completed VAD training
- The Voluntary Assisted Dying Board will oversee, monitor and review all decisions
It is also an offence, punishable by a term of imprisonment, to persuade a patient to access VAD or administer VAD medication without following the formal process.