The individual, formerly a police officer, desires a change in UK law after their terminally ill mother was assisted in ending her life in Switzerland.
James Johnson, who lives in Hampshire, shared that his mother had to use up all of her money to have the ability to decide when she would die.
He is going to tell the Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth that his mother died by herself without her family being around to keep them safe from being accused of a crime.
In Switzerland, people who live there or are from another country can legally receive help to end their life if they are suffering and want to die.
In England and Wales, if someone helps or goes with someone to another country to die, they can be sent to prison for up to 14 years.
Mr Johnson said that his mother, who was a nurse and worked until she wasn’t able to, was very sick with vasculitis. Vasculitis is a disease that attacks important parts of the body and caused her a lot of pain.
He said that she got really good care to help with her pain, but she still had a lot of pain that was very hard to handle.
Mr Johnson did not want him to put his job in danger as a police officer, so he said that she took care of all the plans herself for Dignitas, which is a group in Switzerland that helps people end their lives. She spent over £15,000 to do this.
He said: “My mom was a very strong woman, but her sickness caused her to experience really painful symptoms that palliative care couldn’t relieve. ”
She didn’t have a lot of money, but she had to use all her savings to have control over when she died. This choice should not be kept behind a payment barrier, but according to the laws in the UK, it currently is.
I will always remember saying goodbye to my mom and it will continue to bother me.
I was standing there, crying, trying really hard not to chase after her and hug her again as she started her last journey, but I couldn’t do it.
Mr Johnson said that if assisted dying was allowed in the UK, his mother could have passed away comfortably at home with him, instead of in a hidden place or all by herself, and without spending a lot of money.
Make suffering less.
He said, “I ask Parliament to address this problem and make actual improvements for people who are dying, like my mother. ” They cannot wait because they are busy.
Since she passed away, Mr. Johnson has collected more than £12,000 for Dignity in Dying, a campaign in the UK that aims to change the law.
Francesca Hall, a representative from the organization, said that UK lawmakers need to stop relying on another country to show compassion because they don’t want to deal with the issues surrounding our assisted dying ban.
Last year, Members of Parliament started an investigation to collect information and opinions about assisted dying. They wanted to determine if the law regarding this should be modified.
They said people were concerned about how it could affect people who are at risk and the healthcare workers who would be involved.
“Many people suggested providing more money and resources for palliative and end of life care to help alleviate pain and suffering,” they stated.
In a few European countries like Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands, assisted dying is no longer considered a crime.
The British Medical Association has decided to remain neutral on the matter.
Alistair Thompson, who is part of a group called Care Not Killing, which is against legalizing assisted suicide in the UK, said that changing the law would send a message that people with terminal or chronic illnesses will suffer and that current medical care cannot help them. He believes that this would lead to people thinking that taking a pill will peacefully end their lives.
He said that this action would make the most vulnerable people in society feel scared. He also mentioned that our healthcare system is weak and lacks funding, which puts stress on services. He believes that instead of debating this dangerous and ideological policy, Parliament should be focused on providing palliative care to the one in four British citizens who need it.
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