Choosing to die

The picture above shows Peter Smedley as he took the lethal drug that ended his life in the Dignitas facility in Zurich. God bless you, Peter.

I have just watched a recording of Terry Pratchett's BBC documentary 'Choosing to die'. By any standards this was a remarkable piece of television and if you have not watched it then I urge you to do so. It is not an easy watch. The subject matter is difficult and I defy you not to be emotionally effected by it.

71 year old Peter was terminally ill with a deteriorating disease and no hope of recovery. He took the decision to end his life at a time of his choosing whilst he was still able to cope to a degree and before he became a burden on his family. His wife supported his decision, even though she wished to care for him as long as possible. She sat beside him and stroked his hand as he drifted off to sleep, never to wake up.

His death and Pratchett's own situation coping with Alzheimers has brought home to me that there is a very distinct difference between euthanasia and assisted death, and that this is an important distinction.

Peter was in full possession of his mental faculties and took the decision to end his life in the manner and at the time of his choosing. The European Convention of Human Rights, for all its many faults, conveys the right of self determination. In Belgium, assisted death is legal. But not in the UK.

It is a matter of shame, in my opinion, that people like Peter are forced to travel to Switzerland in order to end their days peacefully in a building on an industrial estate.

Pratchett's situation is different. He seems to want to end his days with the same dignity afforded to Peter Smedley, but he recognizes that this can only be done whilst he is in possession of his abilities to take that decision. He must confirm that that he knows what he is doing, is mentally competant to take that decision and able to administer the fatal dose to himself. As an Alzheimers suffer, he knows that the disease will rob him of the ability to make that choice if he leaves it too long. And therein lies the quandry...

Assisted death is a self determination. Euthanasia is someone taking that decision for you.

The former is something that should clearly be considered for legalisation in this country, whereas the latter is something that requires considerably more thought. I don't know the answer, but I know that the debate needs to happen.

I salute your courage, Peter, and if his program raises public awareness of the issue then your death will not have been in vain.

Choosing to die

The picture above shows Peter Smedley as he took the lethal drug that ended his life in the Dignitas facility in Zurich. God bless you, Peter.

I have just watched a recording of Terry Pratchett's BBC documentary 'Choosing to die'. By any standards this was a remarkable piece of television and if you have not watched it then I urge you to do so. It is not an easy watch. The subject matter is difficult and I defy you not to be emotionally effected by it.

71 year old Peter was terminally ill with a deteriorating disease and no hope of recovery. He took the decision to end his life at a time of his choosing whilst he was still able to cope to a degree and before he became a burden on his family. His wife supported his decision, even though she wished to care for him as long as possible. She sat beside him and stroked his hand as he drifted off to sleep, never to wake up.

His death and Pratchett's own situation coping with Alzheimers has brought home to me that there is a very distinct difference between euthanasia and assisted death, and that this is an important distinction.

Peter was in full possession of his mental faculties and took the decision to end his life in the manner and at the time of his choosing. The European Convention of Human Rights, for all its many faults, conveys the right of self determination. In Belgium, assisted death is legal. But not in the UK.

It is a matter of shame, in my opinion, that people like Peter are forced to travel to Switzerland in order to end their days peacefully in a building on an industrial estate.

Pratchett's situation is different. He seems to want to end his days with the same dignity afforded to Peter Smedley, but he recognizes that this can only be done whilst he is in possession of his abilities to take that decision. He must confirm that that he knows what he is doing, is mentally competant to take that decision and able to administer the fatal dose to himself. As an Alzheimers suffer, he knows that the disease will rob him of the ability to make that choice if he leaves it too long. And therein lies the quandry...

Assisted death is a self determination. Euthanasia is someone taking that decision for you.

The former is something that should clearly be considered for legalisation in this country, whereas the latter is something that requires considerably more thought. I don't know the answer, but I know that the debate needs to happen.

I salute your courage, Peter, and if his program raises public awareness of the issue then your death will not have been in vain.

Politically correct

With a name like PC Air you might be tempted to think that this is a wind up...

The Thai airline has decided that it will employ ladyboys as flight attendants. They are, after all, quite common in Thailand and after advertising for staff, the airline was swamped with applicants by transvestites and transexuals.

The airline said that the qualifications for the ladyboy flight attendants were the same as for female flight attendants, with the additional provisos that they be like women in how they walk and talk, and have a feminine voice and the right attitude. The Thai Department of Civil Aviation says it has no problem with the policy and the airline says it may well hire some more from the 'third gender'.

I don't know about you, but I find this a little queer...

Politically correct

With a name like PC Air you might be tempted to think that this is a wind up...

The Thai airline has decided that it will employ ladyboys as flight attendants. They are, after all, quite common in Thailand and after advertising for staff, the airline was swamped with applicants by transvestites and transexuals.

The airline said that the qualifications for the ladyboy flight attendants were the same as for female flight attendants, with the additional provisos that they be like women in how they walk and talk, and have a feminine voice and the right attitude. The Thai Department of Civil Aviation says it has no problem with the policy and the airline says it may well hire some more from the 'third gender'.

I don't know about you, but I find this a little queer...

I'm back - and so's Gordon!

Well, I'm back. Totally shagged out after two 11 hour flights, so you'll hopefully forgive me if I am a little lethargic in picking up the reigns again...

Meanwhile, here's a little I-Spy that I spotted out of the window at LA airport :

My God, I thought Blair had some money making ideas, but getting your face painted on the tail fin of every jet in the Air Alaska fleet? No wonder they got rid of Sarah Palin!

(Note for Ian Hislop : You can have this one for the I-Spy section in the Eye, but rest assured I will deal with you later. Watch this space...)

I'm back - and so's Gordon!

Well, I'm back. Totally shagged out after two 11 hour flights, so you'll hopefully forgive me if I am a little lethargic in picking up the reigns again...

Meanwhile, here's a little I-Spy that I spotted out of the window at LA airport :

My God, I thought Blair had some money making ideas, but getting your face painted on the tail fin of every jet in the Air Alaska fleet? No wonder they got rid of Sarah Palin!

(Note for Ian Hislop : You can have this one for the I-Spy section in the Eye, but rest assured I will deal with you later. Watch this space...)

Dignity in Dying

Returning to a controversial subject for which I have been criticised before on this blog, I would like to introduce you to someone who talks a lot of sense.

The lady on the left is Dr. Ann McPherson CBE. Ann qualified as a doctor in 1968 and was a general practitioner in Oxford for 30 years until 2008.

She is a fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners and Green College Oxford, and a patron of Dignity in Dying.

On Monday morning she appeared on the BBC Breakfast programme to highlight the issue of 'physician assisted death'. As I understand it, she supports the idea in principle  - for people of sound mind with limitted time left to live who find their pain insufferable.

Earlier this year, she wrote the following in the Guardian :

"I am dying of pancreatic cancer. I wish I wasn't. But dying isn't a failure on my part, it is part of life. I wish to live as long as possible, but not at the expense of enduring an undignified death. In the final days or weeks of my life, if I consider my suffering to be unbearable, I would like the choice to die at home at a time of my choosing surrounded by my loved ones."

You can read the full article by clicking >here< and I urge you to do so.

The reason for her appearance was to reopen this debate prior to the GPs conference later this week. She knows it is an important subject and wants to ensure that the debate is kept in the public eye.

I encourage you to find out more about this issue because, who knows, it may well effect you one day...

Dignity in Dying

Returning to a controversial subject for which I have been criticised before on this blog, I would like to introduce you to someone who talks a lot of sense.

The lady on the left is Dr. Ann McPherson CBE. Ann qualified as a doctor in 1968 and was a general practitioner in Oxford for 30 years until 2008.

She is a fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners and Green College Oxford, and a patron of Dignity in Dying.

On Monday morning she appeared on the BBC Breakfast programme to highlight the issue of 'physician assisted death'. As I understand it, she supports the idea in principle  - for people of sound mind with limitted time left to live who find their pain insufferable.

Earlier this year, she wrote the following in the Guardian :

"I am dying of pancreatic cancer. I wish I wasn't. But dying isn't a failure on my part, it is part of life. I wish to live as long as possible, but not at the expense of enduring an undignified death. In the final days or weeks of my life, if I consider my suffering to be unbearable, I would like the choice to die at home at a time of my choosing surrounded by my loved ones."

You can read the full article by clicking >here< and I urge you to do so.

The reason for her appearance was to reopen this debate prior to the GPs conference later this week. She knows it is an important subject and wants to ensure that the debate is kept in the public eye.

I encourage you to find out more about this issue because, who knows, it may well effect you one day...

The right to die

A wee while back, I published a post on euthanasia and the right to die on my own terms. I was pilloried.

However, the issue has now again come to a head with the news that Tony Nicklinson, 56,  wants his wife to be allowed to help him die without the risk of being prosecuted for murder.

Tony suffers from so called "locked in syndrome". This means that he can only communicate by blinking or nodding his head at letters on a board.


His lawyers say he is "fed up with life" and does not wish to spend the next 20 years in this condition.

He doesn't want his life prolonged on these terms. Would you? Sadly, his only option is to refuse food and starve himself to death. Not very pleasant - and who's to say that some do-gooder wouldn't go to court for an order to force feed him?

He wants to know if his wife will be prosecuted if she helps him end his life. It's a difficult situation and is there anyone out there who thinks that if his wife does help him, she will ever forgive herself. I feel for them both.

His lawyers argue that the current murder law infringes Mr Nicklinson's rights to respect for his private life under article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Regrettably, this bring into question once again who exactly is the highest court in this land. Let's not go there as, for once, this is not the most important question.

The most important question is, of course, whether this country will respect the right of its citizens over their own destinies. It is about time for this decision. If this man brings it about, then he will not have suffered for nothing. He has my total respect.

I sincerely hope that the legal eagles will see common sense in this case and let the man die legally and with dignity without persecuting his wife. She feels bad enough already...

The right to die

A wee while back, I published a post on euthanasia and the right to die on my own terms. I was pilloried.

However, the issue has now again come to a head with the news that Tony Nicklinson, 56,  wants his wife to be allowed to help him die without the risk of being prosecuted for murder.

Tony suffers from so called "locked in syndrome". This means that he can only communicate by blinking or nodding his head at letters on a board.


His lawyers say he is "fed up with life" and does not wish to spend the next 20 years in this condition.

He doesn't want his life prolonged on these terms. Would you? Sadly, his only option is to refuse food and starve himself to death. Not very pleasant - and who's to say that some do-gooder wouldn't go to court for an order to force feed him?

He wants to know if his wife will be prosecuted if she helps him end his life. It's a difficult situation and is there anyone out there who thinks that if his wife does help him, she will ever forgive herself. I feel for them both.

His lawyers argue that the current murder law infringes Mr Nicklinson's rights to respect for his private life under article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Regrettably, this bring into question once again who exactly is the highest court in this land. Let's not go there as, for once, this is not the most important question.

The most important question is, of course, whether this country will respect the right of its citizens over their own destinies. It is about time for this decision. If this man brings it about, then he will not have suffered for nothing. He has my total respect.

I sincerely hope that the legal eagles will see common sense in this case and let the man die legally and with dignity without persecuting his wife. She feels bad enough already...

Euthanasia - The only way to go

An awful lot of guff is talked about human rights and none more so than about the right to life.

What about the right to die?

With dignity?

After all, it's my life and if I have had enough, then why should some goody two shoes know-it-all religious nut tell me that I have no right to end it?

If a dog has cancer and is suffering we take it to the vet and put it out of its misery. If a horse breaks its leg, we shoot it. If we fancy a steak or a chop, we don't think twice about killing the poor cow, sheep or pig. So what is it that is so special about the human being? After all we are just another mammal only smarter - well, unless you compare us to dolphins anyway...

"Ah", I hear you say "only humans have souls and God made us in his own image and gave us dominion over the beasts of the Earth." Absolute bollocks! Anyone who believes that God is a man with a big white beard and sits on a throne in the clouds is a demented lunatic and should be locked up immediately for his own safety and the safety of others.

The fact is that there is most likely no God, and even if there is then any man arrogant enough to think he has a direct line to Him and that He listens to what he says is deluding himself. If there is a God, then the creator of the universe is far to busy to notice this entire planet, let alone any individual on it. If the sun exploded tomorrow, then in the great scheme of things, it simply wouldn't matter. No-one out there would notice.

The fact is that the greatest human right we could possibly have is the right to decide what to do with our own lives. If I am suffering and I have had enough, then I want the right to end it. I want the right to ask someone to help me. I want the right for them not to be prosecuted for their compassion and compliance in helping me.

It must be my decision and mine alone and I would not condone for a moment anyone else taking that decision for me by either prolonging my life against my wishes or deciding to end it for me.

So put all the safeguards in place by all means but at least have the courage to grant me dignity and a death free from protracted suffering. After all, we extend that right to animals, so why not humans...

Euthanasia - The only way to go

An awful lot of guff is talked about human rights and none more so than about the right to life.

What about the right to die?

With dignity?

After all, it's my life and if I have had enough, then why should some goody two shoes know-it-all religious nut tell me that I have no right to end it?

If a dog has cancer and is suffering we take it to the vet and put it out of its misery. If a horse breaks its leg, we shoot it. If we fancy a steak or a chop, we don't think twice about killing the poor cow, sheep or pig. So what is it that is so special about the human being? After all we are just another mammal only smarter - well, unless you compare us to dolphins anyway...

"Ah", I hear you say "only humans have souls and God made us in his own image and gave us dominion over the beasts of the Earth." Absolute bollocks! Anyone who believes that God is a man with a big white beard and sits on a throne in the clouds is a demented lunatic and should be locked up immediately for his own safety and the safety of others.

The fact is that there is most likely no God, and even if there is then any man arrogant enough to think he has a direct line to Him and that He listens to what he says is deluding himself. If there is a God, then the creator of the universe is far to busy to notice this entire planet, let alone any individual on it. If the sun exploded tomorrow, then in the great scheme of things, it simply wouldn't matter. No-one out there would notice.

The fact is that the greatest human right we could possibly have is the right to decide what to do with our own lives. If I am suffering and I have had enough, then I want the right to end it. I want the right to ask someone to help me. I want the right for them not to be prosecuted for their compassion and compliance in helping me.

It must be my decision and mine alone and I would not condone for a moment anyone else taking that decision for me by either prolonging my life against my wishes or deciding to end it for me.

So put all the safeguards in place by all means but at least have the courage to grant me dignity and a death free from protracted suffering. After all, we extend that right to animals, so why not humans...

The joys of package holidays

It's been a couple of years since we last had a holiday in Greece. Well, I'm pleased to report that despite the heralds of impending Euro doom, it's still here - it's just not like we remember it!

My review is, I must admit, a little coloured by the fact that tour company decided to bump us on to Shitijet - otherwise known as Thomson fly - at the last minute so my bright idea of booking a hotel with parking right next to the terminal at Gatquick went right out the window when they changed terminals on us!

And, in case you're wondering, the bright new interterminal monorail that was due to be opened for the start of the holiday season is now scheduled to open just as it comes to an end instead.

Our flight on Shitijet was further delayed by the fact that so many people had been bounced off Monarch (no explanation given!) that the pilot had no idea how many people were actually flying with him and, as I overheard the man on the gate say, that sort of info does affect the fuel load. As the captain remarked on takeoff, it helps if you actually have enough fuel for the entire trip rather than just part of it. Still, I suppose we could have swum the last bit...

So here we were, surrounded by screaming ankle biters who should have been in school ("But it costs more during school holidays, dunnit?" as one bloke was overheard to remark!). We refused to eat the most disgusting airline meal I have ever seen - and believe me I've seen quite a few; even cold sushi for breakfast on a flight back from Japan on one occasion. This so-called food looked like a reconstituted chicken shit spiced to hell to cover the taste, served lukewarm with cardboard massed potato which you could have used to repoint an industrial chimney.

Anyway, after a few hours retreat into the iPod we hit the runway in Corfu - rather fast and hard actually, but the wheels stayed on - so, as they say, any flight you walk away from is a good flight!

First leg done, then. More tomorrow....

The joys of package holidays

It's been a couple of years since we last had a holiday in Greece. Well, I'm pleased to report that despite the heralds of impending Euro doom, it's still here - it's just not like we remember it!

My review is, I must admit, a little coloured by the fact that tour company decided to bump us on to Shitijet - otherwise known as Thomson fly - at the last minute so my bright idea of booking a hotel with parking right next to the terminal at Gatquick went right out the window when they changed terminals on us!

And, in case you're wondering, the bright new interterminal monorail that was due to be opened for the start of the holiday season is now scheduled to open just as it comes to an end instead.

Our flight on Shitijet was further delayed by the fact that so many people had been bounced off Monarch (no explanation given!) that the pilot had no idea how many people were actually flying with him and, as I overheard the man on the gate say, that sort of info does affect the fuel load. As the captain remarked on takeoff, it helps if you actually have enough fuel for the entire trip rather than just part of it. Still, I suppose we could have swum the last bit...

So here we were, surrounded by screaming ankle biters who should have been in school ("But it costs more during school holidays, dunnit?" as one bloke was overheard to remark!). We refused to eat the most disgusting airline meal I have ever seen - and believe me I've seen quite a few; even cold sushi for breakfast on a flight back from Japan on one occasion. This so-called food looked like a reconstituted chicken shit spiced to hell to cover the taste, served lukewarm with cardboard massed potato which you could have used to repoint an industrial chimney.

Anyway, after a few hours retreat into the iPod we hit the runway in Corfu - rather fast and hard actually, but the wheels stayed on - so, as they say, any flight you walk away from is a good flight!

First leg done, then. More tomorrow....