Esther Rantzen, the founder of Childline, has spoken out about the need for a change in the law regarding assisted dying amidst her battle with cancer. She is advocating for carefully legalising assisted dying and is urging people to write to their MPs as proposed legislation is set to be presented before the Commons for the first time in almost a decade.
Rantzen, who is currently facing stage four lung cancer, shared her own story of terminal illness and the importance of having a choice in how one’s life comes to an end. She revealed her fears of a painful death and her decision to join Dignitas, a Swiss organization that provides assisted dying services. She emphasized the need for individuals to have the right to choose not to shorten their lives, but to shorten their deaths.
As the bill on assisted dying is approaching a vote in Parliament, Rantzen urged people to communicate their views to their MPs, highlighting the significance of this life and death issue. She emphasised the importance of having hope and confidence in facing the end of life with dignity.
Despite facing criticism from the Archbishop of Westminster and others who oppose a change in the law, Rantzen remains steadfast in her belief that the current legal framework is cruel. She shared the story of a woman whose father-in-law resorted to suicide due to unbearable pain from leukaemia, illustrating the urgent need for a compassionate approach to end-of-life care.
Rantzen highlighted the limitations of even the best palliative care and stressed that legalising assisted dying for the terminally ill could potentially alleviate suffering and provide comfort to both patients and their families. She asserted that the focus should be on giving individuals the autonomy to make decisions about their own lives rather than imposing beliefs on others.
As the debate on assisted dying continues, Rantzen’s advocacy for a change in the law carries a message of compassion, choice, and dignity in the face of terminal illness. Her courage in sharing her own journey serves as a powerful call to action for a more empathetic approach to end-of-life decision-making.