Dame Prue Leith is of the opinion that her son would possess a “different perspective” on assisted dying if he had witnessed the demise of his father or uncle – as she did.
The media personality, recognized primarily for her role in The Great British Bake Off, urged constituents to “support transformative change” as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is poised for discussion in the House of Commons.
Members of Parliament will participate in a free vote regarding the suggested legislation, which would permit individuals aged 18 and over who are terminally ill to receive medical aid to end their life in England and Wales.
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Dame Prue shared with the Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge that she had not considered assisted dying significantly until witnessing her brother David’s painful death, where he was “screaming in agony” towards the conclusion of his life.
Conversely, her son Danny Kruger – the shadow work and pensions minister – previously stated to Sky News that the assisted dying bill introduced by Labour’s Kim Leadbeater is “impossible” to frame in a sufficiently stringent manner.
He asserted that if the UK provided “top-quality palliative care,” no one would require the choice of assisted dying.
However, Dame Prue believes that her son “would have a different perspective” had he witnessed “the passing of his uncle or his father”.
When inquired if she and Mr. Kruger engage in debates over this issue, the broadcaster remarked: “We generally avoid it.
“Discussions tend to evolve into lengthy dialogues, which I must say are never heated, given that we are very fond of each other.”
The Bake Off icon expressed to Sophy Ridge her strong support for assisted dying, influenced by her brother’s passing, where she saw him in “screaming agony” at the end of his life.
David was in his 60s when he succumbed to bone cancer, and Dame Prue reflected on the heartbreaking instances she endured prior to his death.
She remarked: “The morphine would alleviate his suffering for a few hours, but then it would cease to be effective, and he would have to wait for another dose.
“They administered it only every four hours. Consequently, he began by crying, followed by whimpering and moaning, then progressed to crying, eventually screaming, and reaching a state of utter desperation.
“And the other patients in the ward had to endure it. The nurses had to endure it. His family had to endure it.”
Dame Prue noted that David was “pleading for someone to assist him”.
“He would often say, ‘if I were a dog, if I were a horse, you would do the right thing by me, you’d put me to rest.'”
She is calling on MPs to “support a change” in the legislation, asserting that “there’s no doubt the existing law is ineffective”.
On Friday, MPs will determine whether to endorse the assisted dying proposal. The proposed law would legalize medical assistance for terminally ill individuals aged 18 and older to terminate their own life in England and Wales.
The legislation stipulates detailed criteria that must be met for eligibility.
The Labour MP advocating for the bill, Ms. Leadbeater, claims that the safeguards are the “most rigorous” globally, while others contend it could lead to a “slippery slope towards death on demand.”
