From The Disability News Service.........
Disabled people with progressive and terminal conditions have gathered in parliament to 'plead for our lives' in front of MPs and peers, as current news on assisted dying highlights a bill aimed at legalising assisted dying legislation in England and Wales that has just completed a key stage in the Commons. This critical moment underscores the ongoing fight for disabled people rights in discussions surrounding end-of-life options.
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From The Guardian newspaper.........
Faith leaders warn that current news on assisted dying legislation could transform assisted dying into a ‘tool’ to harm women in England and Wales. Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Sikh women express concern that the bill lacks sufficient safeguards to protect vulnerable individuals, including disabled people rights.
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From Sky News.........
The Isle of Man is set to become the first of the British Isles to legalise assisted dying, a significant step in current news on assisted dying. The Assisted Dying Bill, which must receive royal assent before becoming law, would permit adults who have resided on the Isle of Man for five years and have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of no more than 12 months to access this service. This legislative move also highlights the importance of addressing disabled people rights in the context of end-of-life choices.
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From the BBC........
the current news on assisted dying indicates that fewer than a dozen people a year would likely choose assisted death, which is now "a step closer" to becoming a reality.
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From the Daily mail.......
The current news on assisted dying highlights a significant rise in the number of assisted suicides in Oregon, which surged by a fifth to reach 367 deaths last year. This increase comes as more individuals are facing severe complications, such as vomiting, with one patient experiencing a prolonged dying process that lasted nearly a week.
Those who opted for assisted dying in Oregon were predominantly white and elderly, with 82 percent of them being 65 years and older. The data indicates that 66 percent of recipients of the Death with Dignity Act (DWDA) had cancer, followed by brain disease at 11 percent and heart disease at 10 percent.
A noteworthy 92 percent cited a desire to die due to concerns about losing autonomy related to their condition. Additionally, many expressed fears about life becoming less enjoyable (88 percent), loss of dignity (64 percent), and loss of bodily control (47 percent). Alarmingly, 43 percent voiced worries about becoming a burden on their loved ones.
This data raises important discussions surrounding assisted dying legislation and emphasizes the ongoing need to advocate for the rights of disabled people in these critical conversations.
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From the Guardian
UK membership of Dignitas, the Swiss assisted dying association, has surged to 1,900 individuals – a 24% increase during 2023 – as current news on assisted dying highlights a new bill being introduced before the Scottish parliament. This rise underscores the growing interest in assisted dying legislation among UK citizens, who now represent the second largest demographic within the organization, based near Zurich and dedicated to helping individuals end their lives. The largest group remains Germans, who, following a 2020 court ruling, can now access assistance to end their lives at home. Alistair Thompson, spokesperson for Care Not Killing, a campaign advocating against the legalization of assisted dying, noted that this membership surge is partly due to the perception that the NHS is in crisis, the financial struggles of the hospice movement, and a consistent failure to ensure the availability of high-quality palliative care, particularly affecting the rights of disabled people.
