Last year I was asked by Full Circle Funeral Directors to lead one of their online information sessions. Although they are based in Leeds, Ilkley and Harrogate, I knew about their very extensive programme of seminars and I’d attended a few and chatted to David Billington, one of the funeral directors who organizes the online programme. He knew of my interest in assisted dying and he suggested I lead a session on this topic.
At the time, there was possible legislation progressing through four of our “local” parliaments: Scotland, Westminster, the Isle of Man Tynwald and the Jersey States Assembly, So it was a highly topical issue. I gave some background on definitions and on the places round the world where assisted dying is currently legal. I focused on two of those places, Oregon and the Netherlands, which illustrate two different approaches, especially on the question of eligibility.
Then I described the proposed legislation in the various “home” parliaments and gave a summary of where each was in terms of its legislative schedule.
There has since been quite a bit of parliamentary movement, so David asked if I would do a follow-up session last week. In fact the Bill in the Scottish Parliament has been defeated. The Westminster Bill has run out of time in the House of Lords (due to the huge number of amendments proposed in what has been seen as a deliberate wrecking tactic by some). The Bill in the Isle of Man has been approved but is still awaiting royal assent and seems to have encountered snags. Only Jersey appears to be moving ahead.
As the situation has largely stalled, I took some time to look at several “grey areas” where people in the UK do have access to forms of assisted dying or there is a certain ambiguity. For example, there is the Dignitas route where people can go to Switzerland to legally end their life. But of course they need to be physically able to make the journey, they need to have the funds to do it (over £10,000) and any friends or relatives who help them could in theory find themselves in legal jeopardy.
Then there is voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED). I wrote recently about my reading of a memoir about this – Intervals by Marianne Brooker. I got the impression that some of the attendees at the session had not considered this possibility. Of course, ending your life in this way is not easy…. or quick.
In these sessions I try to avoid debate on “yes” or “no” to either the principle of assisted dying or on the specific legislation proposed. I also try to keep my own views to myself. I see the sessions as a way of informing people about the sheer complexity of the topic and and to highlight some of the moral issues. I draw on some first-hand experience from colleagues in Canada. And I try to open discussion to consider what impact such legislation might have on the work of funeral professions such as funeral directors, celebrants, end of life doulas, hospice workers, grief specialists etc.
If you would like me to deliver a similar session for your organization, by all means get in touch and we can discuss further.