My father-in-law pleaded for us to end his life - his desperate words still haunt me.

The painful and agonizing pleas that my father-in-law, Sean, made during his final days have stayed with our family ever since. It's hard to fathom being in such excruciating pain that one would beg for their life to end. But unfortunately, that was the reality for Sean in late 2023.

I remember one morning when he turned to his son and said, "Please, kill me now!" It broke our hearts to hear him in such despair, but we knew there was nothing we could do legally to help him. Those were the last words Sean ever spoke to his son, and his pleas continued until his last breath.

As a family, we would have done anything to alleviate Sean's suffering, but UK law prohibited us from doing so. That's why I was relieved to hear about the proposed legislation that would allow terminally ill adults to seek assistance in ending their life, with the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge.

I believe this legislation could prevent other families from experiencing the heartache that we went through. Sean was always young at heart and physically fit, going to the gym and swimming well into his late eighties. He and my mother-in-law were avid travelers and still made regular trips to visit family in the States.

However, in January 2023, Sean's health took a turn for the worse. He was battling recurrent urinary tract infections, which he was privately trying to treat with antibiotics. Eventually, he had to have a catheter placed, which caused him a great deal of pain every time it needed to be changed.

Despite his age and the severity of his symptoms, his doctors did not run any tests, which I still don't understand. By November of that year, I began to worry about his declining health. He had lost a lot of weight, looked ill, and was struggling with unbearable pain.

We eventually found out that Sean had bladder cancer, and it was terminal. The doctors told us that he only had weeks, maybe months, left to live, and there were no treatment options available. All we could do was make him comfortable, but unfortunately, even that was a challenge.

Sean's pain continued to increase, and by Christmas, he could no longer eat or stand without assistance. He was miserable, and his pain medication left him drowsy and experiencing frequent falls. It was heartbreaking to see him suffer in this way.

Despite our best efforts to make him comfortable, his pain only worsened as the cancer spread throughout his body. On January 24, 2024, Sean peacefully passed away in his sleep with his daughter by his side. While we were devastated, we were also relieved that his suffering had finally ended.

Looking back, I can't help but think that if assisted dying had been a legal option, Sean could have had a peaceful and dignified end to his life. Instead, he had to endure weeks of unimaginable pain, and it breaks my heart to remember his pleas for death.

I believe that the proposed legislation is a crucial step in the right direction. It would give people like Sean the choice to end their suffering in their own country, surrounded by their loved ones. It would also provide some relief for families who have to watch their loved ones suffer.

I know that this legislation may not have saved Sean from his fate, but I believe it is essential for the future. As Trevor Moore, chair of My Death, My Decision, said, "The Bill before Parliament offers a crucial step towards giving choice to people like Sean and respecting their wish to end their suffering, here where they live, not forced abroad."

I also hope that this legislation will help others who are suffering from terminal illnesses like MND. It would provide some comfort to know that they have the option to end their suffering if they choose. As someone who has witnessed the devastating effects of a terminal illness, I know how important this legislation is for those who are suffering.

In the end, I hope that no one else has to go through what my family and I went through. The option for assisted dying is urgently needed, and I urge MPs to support this bill. No one should have to suffer like Sean did, and it's a fate I wouldn't wish on anyone.

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