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Are you for or against assisted dying (don't confuse it with euthanasia)?

Woman who was accused of murdering her husband says she would 'do it again'
A woman who joined a pact with her husband after he decided to end his life due to a terminal illness is hoping telling their story will help change laws in the UK.

A family are hoping their assisted dying trauma will be turned into a hit drama, that looks to change laws in the UK.

When terminally ill Dennis Eccleston, 81, decided to end his life, his wife Mavis chose to join him in a pact. She survived and later stood trial for his murder, reports the Mirror.

Through telling their story, the family hope to win over those who think assisted dying should remain illegal. Dame Esther Rantzen, who is also campaigning for a law change after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, said: “I pray the power of this drama will persuade lawmakers and the medical profession that criminalising assisted dying is cruel and wrong.

That is what the vast majority of the public believe.” The broadcasting legend, 83, added: “That is the best memorial for Dennis and Mavis. And it is a legacy that will provide comfort and protection for generations of terminally ill patients and their families.”

After cancer-stricken Dennis told Mavis his plan to end his life when the pain became too much, she replied: “If that’s the way you are going then I’m coming too.” Then when the day arrived in 2018, they lay together in their home holding hands after taking 40 sleeping pills. She said: “Goodnight, darling.” And he told her: “God bless.”

But instead of slipping away peacefully together, they were disturbed by an unplanned visit from their daughter Lynne Eccleston, 64, who called 999. Dennis had signed a do not resuscitate letter and was made comfortable as he died, but Mavis had fallen unconscious before she finished writing her own request not to be revived on her 13-page suicide note, so doctors saved her.

She was then taken from hospital in her nightie, locked in a police cell for 30 hours and accused of murdering Dennis. She was finally cleared after a trial 18 months later at Stafford crown court, but the trauma she endured took its toll.

Now the family have told their story to production company Corestar Media. The script for a drama – called Goodnight, Darling – has been written by Deborah Moggach, the author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Mavis, 85, whose story moved millions after the picture of her and her husband together in their hospital beds in his final moments was beamed around the world, told the Mirror: “I have no regrets."

“I would do it all again to help my husband escape the terrible pain he was in. It was awful, especially to be accused of murdering the man I had loved for 60 years.

“But I’m glad I went through it to show how our law is broken and needs to change. Seeing our story on screen will make it relatable. I hope the public get behind it and change the law. I’m so proud of my children for fighting for this. This drama will show the heartache families are faced with. We are campaigning so people can die peacefully with family and friends around them.”

Read on: [edinburghlive.co.uk]

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Ryo1 8 Mar 15
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11 comments

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2

Is this youth in Asia? (Sorry for that.) 🙂 Actually, I'm all for assisted dying but only if the one dying wants to go this route. Make sure that nobody has any reasons to gain and that the patient has not been talked into it.

2

The medical folk where I live have said addiction to pain killing meds is preferable to living in pain. Access to those meds is relatively easy, and I hope those medical folk honor my DNR request.

No one sought my consent to be born; no one, especially a ruling class, has a right to deny me consent to die.

I have a right to swim from San Fran to Hawaii.

2

Philosophically yes, but my fascination for recreational pharmacology makes palliative care an imperative.

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1

My optometrist shot his wife while she was sleeping. She had advanced cancer, and he was brought up on charges.

A good friend recently lost his sister when a 'friend' of the sister arranged to change the sister's will to benefit her, and then she 'died' under her care.

Unfortunately, the opportunity for murder whether for mercy or for profit looms over this issue.

My recommendation would be to fill a plastic bag with dry ice generated CO2, and put it over one's head.

Please tell us the optometrist’s fate.

@yvilletom This was about 25 years ago and I could not find any reference to it. I believe that he was convicted and received minimal punishment. I had met both of them on several occasions as I got new glasses every other year for about 12 years. She worked with him at the office. I thought it was an extremely sad situation.

4

I was planning my euthanasia stash years prior to The Final Exit hit the stands. I do not believe the government has the right to decide my death. Another example of government over reach. I hope to be in control of that in the future. Purging the intestinal tract. Sitting inside a garbage bag bio degradable. Plenty of my favorite booze & a bunch of happy pills. The scent of freshly ground coffee. The comfort of pets. Headphones with the sound of the wind. We plan & the gods laugh.

4

Anyone in a state of suffering so profound that continuing to live is unbearable absolutely owns that decision and it's ridiculous to punish or even disapprove of someone who helps. We put pets to sleep because they can't make that same decision it plain cruelty to deny that right to someone who plainly understands

5

After watching my husband slowly die over a two year period, I do wish that assisted dying was a thing we could do for those we love who are in horrible pain. 💔 Richard and I talked about it, but knew we would have to leave the state we lived in, and he was too weak to travel. I have my will done and it states very clearly that I am not to be resuscitated if my heart stops. I'm glad this sweet woman was not convicted.

4

Having lived through several terrible illnesses, died twice ( once by strangulation) and now at 75 there are good days (minimal pain and few mobility issues) and Really Bad Days, and having seen my Mom lose hermind while her body remained strong, and my father having a massive heart attack at 53, very unexpectedly and fatal. I can equivocally state the way my dad went was Incrediblely hard on those left behind, watching my Mom slip away over 8-10 years was Worse, and the way I physically feel more and more makes me long for the lovely peace and dark there was when I was dead.
My only option today is I think walk in front of a train...Awful for the engineer, and will I be able to do that when I need too? It is a Horrifying thought, to long for peace and be in a bed unable to get it!!!
A Good daughter would have put a pillow over her Mom's face...I was not that daughter and I regret it.

We can't talk about quality of life without talking about quality of dying and death. It's profound and very subjective. I personally support the idea of assisted dying. But, I can see it would be difficult to reconcile the objective nature of law with the subjective experiences of private individuals. Also, if assisted dying becomes legally accepted, there will be people who exploit the law for their own benefit. It's complicated!

@Ryo1 Yes it should at best be a state/national health option. It is no good making it a for profit venture.

0

The UK supports genocide so perhaps suggest you will also kill all your offspring, cease the gene line. They should go for that!

puff Level 8 Mar 15, 2024
4

I would support assisted suicide for the terminally ill. Or the very elderly who have no quality of life. Arriving at the legal definitions for both will be difficult.

0

You understand the deeper issue at play here. It isn't about a persons right to die. Of course a person can die whenever the fuck they want. That's our right that cannot be taken from us. So it isn't even a question so then why is it a question?

It's a question because in keeping these folks alive longer they are attached to the Matrix, to the system, and they are using the system, mostly the medical system and dollars are flowing. C'mon, we gonna fuck up a good thing? Dollars are flowing!

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