00:00While the discussion about an assisted death is taking place, we know that too
00:06many people in Wales aren't having their full needs met, particularly at
00:11the end of life. And what's really important to say, you know, unashamedly,
00:17is that palliative and end-of-life care services need to be properly invested in.
00:23Marie Curie's position on assisted dying is that we are neutral and it's really
00:28important that we allow policy makers to have this discussion without just
00:33trying to influence them either either way. There was a wide range of opinions
00:38from within the Senate and politicians did not follow any party lines. It was
00:42purely a belief-based vote and members gave some emotive additions. It has been
00:47repeatedly proven that assisted dying laws, when introduced, descend quickly
00:51into a range of problems, from coercion by relatives to the hand-picking of
00:54specific doctors willing to euthanise. And it would, I believe, set a dangerous
00:59precedent and lead to a catalogue of unintended consequences if it was
01:03introduced into the UK. Those people who could be placed under pressure in a
01:08future that is horrifyingly near at hand to end their lives because the necessary
01:13palliative care is not available or because they feel themselves to be a
01:19burden. My fear with this motion, well, my terror really, is not so much with how it
01:26will begin as with how it will end. I believe that I have the right to make
01:32that choice, to make that decision myself, but within the narrow confines and focus
01:39of the legislation itself. The vote ended up not passing with 19 in favour, 26
01:46against and 9 abstentions, but with it being symbolic it wouldn't have changed
01:50much regardless. Now there will be a wait for an official decision from Westminster
01:55when we'll find out what could happen for assisted dying in the near future.
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