‘I want how and when I die to be my choice’

YVONNE Pryor, a married mother-of-four from Edinburgh, was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer in October 2015. Although the initial prognosis was poor, the 54-year-old has responded well to chemotherapy and her condition is currently “stable”.

The statistics for longterm survival are poor, however, and – if it comes to it – Pryor wants the right to control how and when she dies so that she can choose to be at home with her family, and limit her own suffering.

“I’m a carer and I’ve worked all of my life looking after people,” said Pryor, who also looks after a man with learning disabilities who has lived with her family in Edinburgh for more than 25 years.

“I’ve worked in Edinburgh

Royal Infirmary, at Craig House [then a mental hospital] and care homes so [assisted suicide] has been something I’ve thought about for a long time and I do feel quite strongly that you should have a choice.

“I feel that progressing this particular campaign for people who are terminally ill is the way to go at the moment. It may be that we can open it out and look at it again after, but I think to get this legislation passed it’s good that this campaign and this Bill are quite narrow and it does only include people with terminal illnesses. I think it’s the way to get a foot in the door. There’s no guarantee that you will not be in pain and discomfort at the end. I know there are lots of places where there is very good palliative care, but that doesn’t happen for everyone. I know that from experience.”