#AssistedDying is an emotional subject, and undeniably if brought in needs serious checks and balances, but my personal view is that we urgently need a mechanism for providing people who want the choice with the choice. 1/ #r4today
Today marks 27 years since my mum died from cancer. My memories of her are limited, I was only young, and the main one I have is of the radio alarm clock's red digits reading 7:54 when I was told she had gone while I was holding her hand. 2/
Unfortunately, one of my other memories is of her begging to be allowed to die as the tumours consumed her. She had been so full of energy and so intelligent. She was a law lecturer who taught herself economics over one particular summer holiday period so she could...3/
teach it to A-level standard because someone else had left. She was a magistrate and a councillor, going so far as to hold meetings in her bedroom when she was first bed-bound because she was determined she would beat cancer. 4/
When it became clear she wouldn't though she wanted to die, and to die on her own terms. She didn't have that choice though. That's what I believe in, having the choice. That needs serious measures to protect people, but those measures can be implemented. 5/
I campaign for many things, but I tend not to with this because it is personal. I did, however, post about it yesterday and ever since have had a campaign group in my mentions claiming that it is "murder", and by extension those who believe in assisted dying are murderers. 6/
I am disabled myself, I understand just how much disabled voices are marginalised and silenced. There are those who believe in assisted dying, like myself, and those who don't. All those voices must be heard, but they have to also recognise that none of us speak for everyone. 7/
I'm sharing my view, and it is only my view, because I think it is important that everyone has a say. It's a view based on personal experience. I am terrified of not having the choice should it come to it, and I regret that my mother didn't have the choice when she needed it. 8/
28 years, my maths is terrible.
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