Friday, May 3, 2019
Since Sept 27, 1879
THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY
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Terminally Busy day for ill ‘should brigades have choice’ By Susan Sandys
susan.s@theguardian.co.nz
Cancer sufferer Sarah Bartlett is among Mid Cantabrians coming out in support of the End of Life Choice Bill as debate about the topic intensifies around the country. MPs will vote on the contentious End of Life Choice Bill later this month and a number of elected members have begun sharing their decision publicly drawing further opinion. And for Bartlett, the chance to have a decision in the right circumstances is something she can only wish for. “Having dealt with a brain tumour, and now with breast cancer, and after watching my mother die due to breast cancer, I cannot wish for anything other than a dignified and comfortable-as-possible death for myself and others,” the Ashburton mum said. She said while the ideal was for everyone to grow old and pass peacefully, having received “the amazing gift of grey hair and wrinkles”, the chances of that happening for herself were not huge. “So, when or if the time comes, that this beast called cancer becomes too much, I would like the choice to go on my terms, with peace and dignity for myself and my family.” Bartlett believed it was important to emphasise the word “choice”, as not all
terminally ill people would want to access assisted dying. “People have their faith and other beliefs, and that is enough for them, there is nothing wrong with that or with others choosing assisted dying,” she said. Former nurse Cathie Withington has also come out in support of the bill. “I would want significant safeguards, but I can see the point,” Withington said. She said for most in hospitals or care homes the phrase “life is sweet” fitted, in that they had the capability of finding things sweet enough in their life for them to want to continue. However, for some this was not applicable, and she had once nursed a younger woman who had motor neurone disease. “That was the thing that really got me. She was still completely conscious, alert and aware, but her body was just shutting down around her. In the end it got to her breathing becoming paralysed as well.” It was in those type of situations that Withington could see the benefits of terminally ill having access to assisted dying. Withington wanted to see further public discussion, particularly around the topic of the ways and means of assisted dying.
FALLOON MAKES HIS DECISION . . .
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