[Dion]

I support assisted dying – but am appalled by Switzerland’s suicide machine

The choice of assisted dying is not simply about avoiding unrelievable pain or other distressing symptoms that even the most expert and compassionate palliative care cannot control, though these are important factors I would bear in mind if I was in such a position. It is about being able to celebrate our life, to gather the people who mean the most to us, to reminisce and say goodbye, safe in the knowledge that we can leave this world at a time, in a place and by the manner of our choosing.

The “Sarco” would instead deprive users of human connection and replace it with a lonely, virtual reality experience. It disconnects people from everything that makes life worth living and gives death meaning. To me, that is the antithesis of what the choice of assisted dying represents.

Safety should always be at the forefront of any efforts to enable greater choice at the end of life, and there are serious safety concerns here. What if it is accessed by someone not in their right mind? Or a child? Or if it is used to abuse others? What if it doesn’t result in immediate or peaceful death and the individual is left alone without any recourse to call for help? I could go on and on.

Reforming our broken assisted dying laws means making them safer and more compassionate. The Sarco does no such thing. Time for a safeguarded assisted dying law that provides valuable choice to those who want it and robust protection to the whole of society.

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices...-b1971534.html