September 10th 2024.
The topic of assisted dying has been a highly debated and controversial issue, with quality of life being a major factor in the argument. As a retired RAF engineer, Peter Scott, 86, and his former nurse wife, Christine, 80, have made the decision to end their lives together in a suicide pod. They do not want to be "trapped by infirmity and pain" and have signed up for the Sarco capsule in Switzerland. This decision was made after Mrs. Scott was diagnosed with early stage vascular dementia.
Personally, I support their decision wholeheartedly. Having witnessed the devastating effects of vascular dementia through the passing of my grandmother and more recently, my mother, who also suffered from Alzheimer's, I understand the toll it takes on the individual and their loved ones. It is a cruel illness that slowly erases the beautiful person they once were.
When my mother was diagnosed, I remember asking my GP if I was at risk of developing it as well. Her reply was that I had a good chance. Now, having seen the symptoms firsthand, such as absentmindedness, aimless wandering, forgetfulness, carelessness, and mood swings, I know that if this disease were to affect me in the next 20 years, I would want to take action. I would not want to inflict my suffering on anyone else, as shared by Steve F from Walsall in the Metro Talk section.
Speaking of Metro Talk, let's shift our focus to the comments made by readers on this topic. Jade from East Croydon believes that if a person is of sound mind and has consciously made the decision to end their life due to an incurable illness, their wishes should be respected by those who know them. Sophie from London adds that while strict safeguards should be in place, prolonging life when there is no quality of life and it is not what the person wants does not benefit anyone. Fiona from Essex, who has firsthand experience working with dementia patients, strongly supports assisted dying as she has seen the lack of quality of life for these individuals. Sharon White from Malvern, who also works in the healthcare industry, shares that she has seen many elderly patients express a desire to die due to their pain and depression. On the other hand, John Turner from via email holds a different perspective as he shares his late wife's belief that life is sacred and does not agree with assisted dying despite her terminal illness.
Moving on to other topics in Metro Talk, one reader brings up the environmental impact of building new towns, referred to as "grey belt land", on old car parks. This reminds them of the song "Big Yellow Taxi" by Joni Mitchell, which prophetically mentions paving paradise and putting up a parking lot. A reader from London raises a valid point about the impact of excessive urban development on climate change. Pedro from Hammersmith asks when the Labour government will stop blaming the past 14 years for current issues, as the previous Tory government did not stop blaming Labour even after 14 years. Margaret from Solihull has a suggestion for saving money by charging full price for food and drinks at the canteens in the House of Commons and House of Lords, rather than taking away the winter fuel allowance from many people. Carlos from Lancashire suggests a practical solution for potholes - using speed humps to fill them in. Helena Newton from Redbridge disagrees with Pedro, who believes that school uniforms should be abolished. She shares that as a former teacher, uniforms help give schools an identity and avoid early morning conflicts over suitable clothing. Jennifer from Surrey argues that uniforms are unnecessary and a waste of money, drawing from her personal experience without uniforms. Andrew Edwards from Islington suggests looking at empty prisons in Northern Ireland and Scotland before considering using prisons in Estonia to house UK prisoners. In response to Steve from London's comment on LL Cool J, Gavin from Wirral disagrees and points out that many people consider his music to be just as valid as any other. Harry from Sunderland supports Eva Maria Kania's suggestion of using a yellow-green tennis ball for football games due to visibility issues for those with poor vision. Dec from Essex adds some humor by comparing Labour leader Keir Starmer to cartoon characters Penfold and Danger Mouse.
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