THE FACT OF THE MATTER
BY PAUL HOPKINS
Terminally ill people in England and Wales are to be given the right to an assisted death in a recent historic societal shift that will transform end-of-life care. MPs narrowly voted in favour of a private member’s Bill introduced by Labour’s Kim Leadbeater, which could become law within four years.
Her Bill, which passed by 314 to 291 votes, was lauded by campaigners as “a day for the history books, where facts have prevailed over fear”.
Being just across the water from us, the move renews the emotive debate here on euthanasia. So where exactly does Ireland stand on the issue?
The debate is ongoing with a Joint Committee on Assisted Dying, having completed work conducted over some years, published its report in October, 2024. The report is a 96-page script with 38 recommendations. The Dail voted to ‘note’ the report which concluded that the Government should consider legislation to allow for assisted dying. However, this vote (to ‘note’) does not change the law and any legislation would need to be passed by the Oireachtas and duly signed by the President.
Among the committee’s recommendations were those of “restricted access” to assisted dying, and safeguards against any coercion or suicide ideation.
Among those with concerns is Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae who says: “What is being suggested in this report is that in certain limited, certain circumstances, that you could assist somebody into the journey of death and that there would not be any legal penalty for it.
“It is a very serious move.”
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has expressed grave reservations about how such legislation could be worded to avoid any ambiguity or misunderstanding or misinterpretation.
People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny says assisted dying should be a fundamental human right. “I boil it down to this: if somebody is in a position where theyʼre terminally ill and they do not want to go through a certain period of that illness, whether itʼs weeks, days, or even hours, they should have a fundamental human right to say ‘I want to end my life on my terms’ when theyʼre coming to the end of their life.
“But not everybody will choose that situation.”
Kenny notes that in other countries, such as New Zealand and Australia, there are “safeguards; thereʼs oversight; thereʼs a legal framework of how somebody makes that request”.
Archbishop Of Armagh Eamon Martin says: “We are removing the idea that all life is precious and that has implications for vulnerable people at all stages in their lives.
“If assisted dying then begins to be extended to people with mental health issues, people who are disabled, [like] where in some countries itʼs no longer even necessary for a person to be ill in order to look for assisted suicide or assisted dying.”
Many in favour of euthanasia repeatedly say that religion should “stay out” of the debate.
It’s all a very emotive and divisive issue.
The emotional debate in London’s Parliament was dominated by pleas from opponents of the Bill for stricter safeguards against coercion by abusers, concern from disabled people and warnings about the fundamental change in the power of the State when granted new rights over life and death.
There are those blinkered by the idea that favouring assisted dying is about toppling old people over the hill, getting rid of your aged granny ‘cos you want her house on that hill.
That is not what it is about. It is about the right of someone who is terminally ill and facing excruciating and unimaginable pain and “being of sound mind” to decide his or her time of going. Ethically, we should have the right to control our own body and the State should not have laws that prevent those who wish to choose when and how they die from doing so.
My late father-in-law lived with Alzheimer’s disease the latter years of his life. He was gone from us long before he gave up the ghost. There were times when I visited him in hospital, alone, those times I wanted to place a pillow over the face of this man, now unknowing, catatonic. And let him slip away. Quietly, and with his dignity just about in tact.
Earlier this year, The Netherlands made several changes to its euthanasia laws, primarily focusing on access for terminally ill children who are “suffering unbearably” and also clarifying the position on people with advanced dementia.
One wonders who makes that decision on their behalf. What now for “one’s own volition”?
