"Right to die" rejected.

[Workingman]

Well, it is for now, though I guess it will be one of those issues to crop up every parliament until it is accepted, then there will be no going back.

I can see both sides of the argument, but have no strong views either way.

However, what I find shocking is that on such a serious and contentious issue only 2/3 of MPs had the decency to turn up and vote. Those who were awol should be named and shamed.

[TheOstrich]

Yes, it's an extremely difficult one. I was rather surprised it was rejected with such a high majority, though.

If I had to vote, I think I'd be in favour. Folk should have the right to take their own decisions not only in life, but also in death. But the difficulty is arriving at an acceptable level of safeguards.

[debih]

I am disappointed that it was rejected.

Everyone should have a choice over what they do with their life, providing it isn't hurting anyone else.


Sent from the dark side of the moon

[Suff]

Having had 3 pretty horrific, drawn out, cancer deaths in our family and seeing the toll it took of the loved one's, I would support this. In the end whether you live or die should be your own decision.

Personally I'd rather that those who want to die for the wrong reasons get support and those who know there is no hope and just want a little dignity before they lose all ability to ask for it, should be given the right to just end it.

I'd also like to know where the other third of the house was on such an important vote....

[Aggers]

I accept that this difficult matter. Both I and Mrs A have agreed that we would prefer
to be put to sleep rather than suffer an agonising run up to death. We didn't want our
beloved pet dog to suffer in his final days, and we are sure that having him put to sleep
was the kindest thing to do. At the same time we can see why maNY people have some
reservations.

[Workingman]

Everyone should have a choice over what they do with their life, providing it isn't hurting anyone else.

My brother would never have had that choice. He was born with physical and mental problems due to mum contracting diphtheria during his pregnancy. So nothing was ever his choice, it was ours.

He was given six months to live at birth, but lived to be 32. He was a much loved brother and I adored him, but our lives would have been so different without him. This is what frightens me. Born to another family he could have had his medications reduced, stopped or not given.

From a personal perspective I hope to accumulate enough medications to do the job if I feel the need. My choice. From a legal perspective I think the law should accept that assisted suicide is just that and that a judicial panel should decide, given all the evidence, whether manslaughter or no crime has been committed.

[Suff]

I do believe there is a hard dividing line between the right to determine your own exit from this world and the right to exit someone else.

It's one of the reasons why I stated that I'd like the choice before I become unable to make that choice. Because once I'm unable to make that choice I do not support someone making it for me.

Personally Mrs S and I are of the same mind. If you bring a child into the world then it's like the marriage vows but stronger. For richer, poorer, in sickness and in health. If you didn't get what you wanted that is not the child's fault and you love them totally no matter what.

For me, if someone were to use the assisted suicide laws for this purpose, it would be murder. You do everything in your power to give them the life that you brought them into this world for. That is the responsibility of a parent. Sadly one of the biggest losses over the last 50 years, in UK society, is responsibility.

But that does not stop me wanting to give competent people the right to exit this world, on their own terms, for the right reasons. That comes under the "responsibility" for your own destiny in my mind.