PROFESSOR Allan House is opposed to the Assisted Dying Bill and yet he quotes a case study of a woman with multiple sclerosis who feels like ending her life as an argument against the Assisted Dying Bill ("Assisted Dying Bill is danger to the most vulnerable people", The Herald, October 14). As multiple sclerosis (MS) is not recognised as a terminal illness I am confused why he should relate a desire to commit suicide by someone who is not terminally ill to the Assisted Dying Bill which would only be available to terminally ill patients who are not expected to live more than six months. The NHS.
UK website states that “most people with MS live into old age although life expectancy, on average, is a few years less than the general population” and I would expect any doctor faced with this patient to discuss why they felt this way and assist them to alleviate their anxiety and the physical symptoms they are experiencing. It is very unlikely that they would able to determine that the patient was about to die of old age in the next six months and as such would not be in a position ethically to offer assisted dying. Professor House also repeatedly uses the emotional word "suicide" in relation to the Assisted Dying Bill which distorts the fact that the bill will only shorten the dying process and shorten the excruciating pain experienced by some.
I realise that the Assisted Dying Bill could be open to abuse but I appear to have more confidence in doctors and the safeguards in the.