A woman who is "terrified" of being "trapped" in pain has said assisted dying should be available to all those "suffering intolerably". Gemma Williams, from Carmarthenshire, has lived with multiple sclerosis (MS) for more than 20 years and said her condition can affect her sight, leave her unable to leave bed and cause real pain. On Friday MPs willvote on proposed legislationto allow people in England and Wales approaching the end of their life to access medical help to die. However, opponents say the plans are "unsafe". "It's awful when I've had periods where I'm just in so much pain on a daily basis," said Ms Williams, from Llanddeusant. "Luckily I know that there's been periods of remission, and it has eased, but if that was my reality and it was going to be there all the time I really don't know how I would deal with that." The 47-year-old said she believed assisted dying should be available for all those "suffering intolerably". "You can have the best palliative care in the world and still be in pain and suffering," she said. "Why prolong it and be forced to go on suffering? "It's wrong that somebody else should tell me I have to continue living in agony when I don't want to and there's no way of alleviating that pain." TheTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Billwas introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. It proposes letting terminally ill people end their life if they: Critics of the bill include Paralympian and House of Lords crossbencher Baroness Grey-Thompson. "The current bill is unsafe, this is not about the principle, it is about the detail," she told BBC Wales. "The bill would allow any doctor to raise this no matter how vulnerable the patient is, including those with learning disabilities. "Private for profit contractors can run the service with no profit cap and no transparency obligations," she added. On Friday MPs will vote on whether to pass or reject the entire bill. If they vote in favour, it will move on to the House of Lords for further consideration. If they do not support it, the bill will fail. When MPs last voted on the bill in November it wasbacked by 330 votes to 275. Of Wales' 32 MPs, 23 voted in favour, six voted against and three did not vote. However, Labour MP for Vale of Glamorgan Kanishka Narayan has already said he will vote against the bill on Friday having supported it in November. Narayan told BBC Wales that while he believed "in the principle" of assisted dying, "the safeguards currently present leave just too many vulnerable people exposed to either misinformed or coerced death". Meanwhile, Labour MP for Rhondda and Ogmore Sir Chris Bryant - who abstained in November - has said he will back the bill this time. Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts has supported the legislation to date and ahead of Friday's vote said "we cannot look away from suffering simply because the legislation is difficult". However her Plaid colleague Ann Davies will vote against the bill, and said she was "not convinced this legislation provides adequate safeguards for the most vulnerable". Monmouthshire Labour MP Catherine Fookes said she would back the plans after seeing her father's experience with illness and palliative care. "Sadly, the current law is failing too many terminally ill people," she said. Before a vote is held on the bill as a whole, the Commons will first have to complete discussions and vote on outstanding amendments,including one that relates to the power of the Welsh Parliament. Following a previous change to the bill, as things stand the Senedd would have the right to choose when most of the bill would become law in Wales. Leadbeater is seeking to reverse that, leaving the Senedd with powers over how the system would work within the Welsh NHS, but not over the law as a whole. Members of the Senedd (MSs) voted against the principle of an assisted dying lawlast October, with 19 in support and 26 against. Among those opposed at the time were First Minister Eluned Morgan and Health Minister Jeremy Miles - senior figures in the government who would be tasked with implementing the bill in Wales. If the bill completes its journey through the UK Parliament and becomes law, the Senedd would have to vote again on whether they agree with the legislation. It is expected that vote would take place in the autumn.
'I'm terrified of being trapped in pain'
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"Debate Intensifies Over Assisted Dying Legislation Amid Concerns for Vulnerable Patients"
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TruthLens AI Summary
Gemma Williams, a 47-year-old woman from Carmarthenshire, has voiced her fears about being trapped in persistent pain due to her 20-year battle with multiple sclerosis (MS). Williams, who experiences debilitating symptoms such as impaired vision and severe pain, advocates for the availability of assisted dying for individuals suffering intolerably. As MPs prepare to vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which aims to allow terminally ill patients to seek medical assistance to end their lives, Williams emphasizes the inadequacy of palliative care in alleviating suffering. She argues that it is unjust for others to dictate the terms of her life when she faces unrelenting agony without hope for relief. Williams's perspective sheds light on the emotional and physical toll of chronic illness, advocating for the right to choose death over prolonged suffering when quality of life is severely compromised.
The proposed legislation, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, has sparked significant debate among lawmakers and advocacy groups. While some MPs, including those from the Labour and Plaid Cymru parties, support the bill, others express concerns about potential risks to vulnerable populations. Critics like Paralympian Baroness Grey-Thompson argue that the bill lacks adequate safeguards to protect those who may be coerced into choosing assisted dying. The upcoming vote is crucial; if passed, the bill will proceed to the House of Lords for further deliberation. Previous votes indicate a divided opinion among MPs, with some changing their stance since the last round of voting. If the legislation clears both parliamentary houses, it will eventually require approval from the Welsh Parliament, which had previously opposed the principle of assisted dying. The outcome of this vote could significantly impact the lives of many individuals facing terminal illnesses, as it addresses the complex intersection of personal autonomy, ethical considerations, and healthcare policy.
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