A bill on this sensitive subject which divides British opinion must be examined on Friday by the deputies of the House of Commons, at the initiative of a member of the Labor majority.
“If the law had been in force when my father died, he could have had a much safer, gentler death” and that “we could have gotten through it emotionally and psychologically together”says Anil, whom AFP met at his home in Walthamstow, northeast of London.
In the large dark wooden bookcase in his living room, a photo shows his mother – who died of cancer in 2008 – and his father, at a time when the illness had not yet diminished him too much.
“At the time of his death, he was truly disabled, he had lost his bodily dignity, his basic mobility functions (…) he suffered from very intense neurological pain and numerous side effects of the disease”remembers Anil, 35 years old. “He could barely raise his hand to feed himself.”he adds.
When he kills himself, the day before celebrating his sixtieth birthday, it is a shock for the whole family.
“Dangerous” status quo
As assisted suicide is illegal and punishable by 14 years in prison, Ian committed suicide without telling anyone close to him, by purchasing pills on the dark web.
“He was very determined and stubborn about not wanting to lose his independence and physical abilities beyond a certain point.. So in hindsight, I suppose it’s not surprising (…) that he decided to control the end of his life”explains Anil today.
Opponents of legalizing assisted suicide fear that it would pose a threat to vulnerable people, who would be encouraged to end their lives prematurely.
But for Anil, “The current law is dangerous. Current law does not protect“ dying people against possible pressure.
She forces them “to make radical decisions, in complete isolation, without protection. That’s exactly what my father did”he insists, judging “vital” a change in the law.
After his death, his loved ones discovered that Ian had made two attempts before succeeding in killing himself.
Regain your “autonomy”
“What he did was obviously an act of regaining autonomy, but it was also extremely dangerous and risky”due to the legislation, believes Anil.
In the hours following his death, the police arrived at Anil’s father’s house, as is the norm in such a situation, confiscating his phone, his computer, as well as the phones of Anil and his sister.
“This experience was so traumatic” says Anil, who remembers feeling like he was being considered “with suspicion” by the police.
Since the death of his father, Anil has invested in the Dignity in Dying association which campaigns in the United Kingdom for the legalization of assisted suicide.
Support from a majority of Britons
She defends the bill tabled by a Labor MP, which authorizes it in England and Wales for adults with an incurable illness with a life expectancy of less than six months, and able to take care of themselves drugs causing death. The text provides for the validation of the decision by two doctors and a judge.
A strict framework, much more than what is in force for example in the Netherlands, Belgium or Canada, and which contains “appropriate measures to protect against coercion”defends Anil, who has participated in several rallies organized by Dignity in Dying in recent months.
He says to himself “optimistic”emphasizing that several recent polls show support from a majority of British people for assisted suicide.
On Friday, Anil will once again be in front of Parliament when MPs debate the text, hoping that they will show up “brave”.
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