Assisted Dying Committee crucial for a compassionate country
Labour Senator and member of the Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying Annie Hoey has said that it is vital that the Committee carry out its discussions in a measured way.
Senator Hoey said:
“I am privileged to be a member of the Committee on Assisted Dying. Ireland is ready to have this conversation and it is vital that this issue is handled sensitively as end of life care is an extremely emotive topic for so many.
“When a loved one becomes sick with a serious illness and the end of their life is nearing, we want to do everything we can to stop their pain and suffering. Improving end of life care and providing outlets for dying with dignity are imperative.
“Many activists have raised this issue over the years, and I want to pay particular tribute to Marie Fleming who took legal action against the State with the support of her partner and children a number of years ago. Ms Fleming made a very emotional appeal during her case that her family should have constitutional and legal protection in the case of an assisted suicide based on compassionate grounds.
“We also remember Vicky Phelan today who urged us as legislators to give people like her the option to be medically assisted to die.
“It’s right and it’s necessary to hold a meaningful debate on whether the right to die for those suffering the concluding stages of a terminal illness should have legal safety. This issue has been disregarded for too long. I look forward to listen from the range of experts to discuss the range of medical, ethical and moral topics that will arise.”