'She wanted to die well'

An Oireachtas Committee has called for the legalisation of assisted dying in Ireland. 

TDs and Senators recommended that someone with a painful and terminal illness should be allowed to end their life.

The Committee believes the legislation would not require a referendum and could be passed into law with a simple act of the Oireachtas.

Speaking to Lunchtime Live, listener Caroline said sister died in September and the experience led her to support assisted dying.

“She loved her life,” Caroline said.

“She was independent; she had a great mind and a great sense of humour – I think her sense of humour kept her alive for longer than what would have been expected with someone who had the complications she had.”

‘She wanted to die well’

In early 2023, Caroline’s sister was hospitalised and bedbound.

Doctors informed her there was not much they could do to relieve her suffering.

“They could have kept her alive for quite a long time past September but she was in a lot of pain,” Caroline said.

“Unfortunately, you can’t oversubscribe on the painkillers to the point that they don’t have any life because they’re not awake.

“She was tired, she was exhausted but all her mental faculties were right there and she decided under Canadian law to sign the MAID – the Medical Assistance In Dying.”

Caroline described this as a “hard decision” for her sister because she had a lot of friends in the community and was a very “positive person”.

Despite all this, she was in so much pain she decided it was time to bring her life to and end.

“With a lot of pastoral care from her pastor and many discussions, she made that decision,” Caroline said.

“I’m so grateful that she did.”

Caroline agrees that assisted dying is “not for everyone” but is glad her sister had the option.

“She didn’t want to die alone,” she said.

“She wanted to die well and she wanted to die with her family around her and we all had the privilege of being with her in her final moments… She did it with dignity and humour and love.

“Isn’t that the way we all wish to go?”

You can listen back here:

Main image: Close up of a patient’s hand. Picture by: Alamy.com 

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