Living and Dying Well

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – often referred to as the Assisted Dying Bill - is being discussed in Parliament as we go to press.

Behind the debate on both sides are deeply held views, with ethical and religious principles, distressing personal experience, fear of the unknown, and concern for the vulnerable all in the mix.  Rather than setting out pros and cons, let’s consider a couple of possible reasons why the question has come to the fore at this time.

Choice. From the multitude of ways we can take our coffee, to bigger issues like schooling for our children, we expect nowadays to have choice as consumers of services.  In healthcare we have moved on from “Doctor knows best” to expecting to be informed participants in shaping our care. Whilst things can’t always pan out if circumstances change, parents to be are encouraged to have a birth plan setting out how they wish to travel through pregnancy and labour.  Perhaps less widely known is the now common practice of End of Life Care Plans which offer space to talk about aspects such as where the person would like to be, and options for pain relief.  The next step some would want is to have choice and control over the timing of their death. 

Awareness.  In previous generations there was a familiarity with death and dying in the local setting. My gran was one of those who would be called on by neighbours to help around the time of a death at home. The latest 2022 figures show that only 28.7% of deaths happened at home, with 43.4% being in hospital. We are less familiar with the natural process of dying, and even seem to avoid the D word – instead we use phrases like “passed away”.  As with anything, not knowing what to expect can lead to fear.

Dr Kathryn Mannix is a retired Palliative Care Consultant who lives locally and seeks to share long experience alongside those who are dying and their families to encourage us all to a better understanding. Her website www.kathrynmannix.com  is worth visiting. Kath also wrote and narrated for Theos Think Tank a helpful 3 min video on the natural process of dying and what to expect. 

It has been estimated that if the bill finally becomes law it will be summer 2027 before proposed changes become operational. Time for us all to become better informed before we might need to make choices.

Christine Brown