A good death

Considering end of life and good death.

29 Nov 2024 — 2 min read

As I write this, our members of parliament are speaking in the terminally ill adults (end of life) bill debate. I am careful to call it by its correct, full name rather than assisted dying, the shorthand many use. This is because clarity about the limited and specific circumstances in which this bill would apply is key.

I've got Parliament TV on as I type. It's an impressive and thoughtful discussion and I am grateful to Kim Leadbeater and her team for introducing a bill on such an important topic and, by doing so, forcing conversations about end of life into the open. It's so important that we have them.

Palliative care, as it stands, is simply not working well enough. The provision of service in the NHS and social care system is patchy and uneven and our wonderful hospices are constrained by their reliance on public fundraising. The legal system is also stretched and dealing with a huge backlog. All of this would need to be fixed and in place alongside the greater personal choice that this bill would offer if it goes forward today.

All of this needs to be fixed whatever the outcome of the vote today, and I hope that those MPs voting against it because of concerns about the practicalities of implementation work hard to address them.

It has been interesting to see how MPs' views have crossed party lines,. I also think that the hundreds of newly-elected MPs will be finding making a decision today difficult for the fact that only are they confronting such a personal and emotive topic at all, but also that they are doing so without the party whip to hide behind. So it will also be interesting to see how the vote splits by length of tenure.

Layla Moran MP, who chairs the Health and Social Care select committee, has just read out the words of a terminally ill constituent of hers highlighting the importance of the prospect of a good death. Something that we would all hope for.

Perhaps the bill would be better named terminally ill adults (good death) bill.

What am I reading? 📚

On topic at the moment, I'm reading Ashes To Admin: Tales from the Caseload of a Council Funeral Officer which is fascinating.

What am I watching? 👀

This week I had the chance to visit Tate Britain to see The 80s - Photographing Britain exhibition. It's on till May next year and I really recommend it, particularly the photos documenting the dramatic politic protests of that era.

A black and white photograph in a black frame depicts a white man with his mouth open shouting. He is holding a placard which reads "The truth hurts but AIDS kills!"

It is World AIDS Day on Sunday. How far we have come since the photograph above was taken with a realistic path to eradicating AIDS by 2030 is in sight.

What am I listening to?👂

I went to two excellent gigs this month: Nick Cave and Fontaines DC.

Here are links to their brilliant 2024 albums: Wild Gods and Romance.

Joy-giving things 😍

This morning's sunrise viewed from my window.