I don’t want my children to see me suffer..
Vicky backs dying with dignity Bill
CANCER campaigner Vicky Phelan said she wants to be able to choose when she dies.
The woman who was at the centre of the cervical cancer scandal is now championing a Dying with Dignity Bill published by Gino Kenny TD.
As the proposed legislation was unveiled Ms Phelan said: “I don’t want my children to see me like that [in pain close to death].
“All I’m asking for is a choice, to be allowed to make that decision.”
Tom Curran, who challenged the law by assisting with his wife Marie Fleming’s death, is also calling for the Government to support the Bill.
And Gail O’rorke, who was acquitted of charges relating to the suicide of her friend Bernadette Forde, was also at the legislation launch.
Ms Phelan added: “I would ask all 160 TDS to support this Bill.
“I’d like to ask them to put themselves in my shoes, a woman with young children who is going to die.
“Palliative care does not always work. I have seen a number of people over the past two and a half years who have died in a hospice, in palliative care.
“It’s fantastic when it works, but there are times when it doesn’t and there’s a certain amount of suffering. That can be difficult to manage and I don’t want my children to see me like that.”
People Before Profit TD Mr Kenny said: “Today is about starting a discussion on the merits of this legislation.
“I appeal to my fellow TD’S to support the progress of this Bill when it’s due for debate later this year.
“I’m calling on party leaders to allow a free vote/vote of conscience, if there isn’t a clear party position.
“Assisted dying is not about ending life, it’s about ending suffering.” Mr Curran said: “We pride ourselves on our freedom to control our lives but, if we care about the way we live, we must also care about the way we die. The Right to Die on our own terms is possibly the last civil and human right to be given the consideration it
deserves here in Ireland.”
I ask TDS to put themselves in my shoes – a woman with children who is going to die VICKY PHELAN YESTERDAY