Latest news with #VoluntaryAssistedDying
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Footy legend Robert Walls' family reveal intimate details of his last moments as he chose to end his life when rare and deadly disease returned
Robert Walls' son has revealed the footy icon's final moments weren't marked by sadness, but by strength and love – exactly how his children say he wanted to go. The Carlton legend died peacefully at home on Thursday, aged 74, after choosing to end his life by drinking a lethal substance under Victoria's Voluntary Assisted Dying laws. His children, David, Daniel and Rebecca, were by his side, along with his sister Annette, former partner Julie, and beloved dog Lily. David Walls said his father had faced his death with remarkable composure. 'He skipped down the hallway like he was running through the banner,' he told News Corp. 'He was ready. He said, 'I've had a great life... but it's enough.' Walls had spent more than 250 days in hospital since being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2023. When the cancer returned after a short remission, he decided not to endure another round of chemotherapy. 'He didn't want to keep fighting something he knew he couldn't beat,' David said. 'He'd seen what cancer did to Mum, and he didn't want that to be his story too.' Erin Walls, his wife of many years, died in 2006 from lung cancer. Her death left a lasting mark on the footy great, who had cared for her during her final days. 'He did an enormous job,' David said. 'I think that experience really influenced his decision.' In his final weeks, Walls called friends, teammates and former players to say goodbye. 'He was taking calls constantly,' David said. 'So many people reached out. It makes you proud of the football community – past players, opponents, coaches – all showing care and respect.' Walls made it clear to his children that he didn't want publicity before his death. He wanted time with his family and the chance to go quietly, in control of the moment. Walls was extremely well known in the AFL world, but did not want his passing to be publicised before he went 'He jumped through all the hoops, saw the doctors, and got the green light,' David said. 'He knew exactly what he was doing.' The family spent his final night together, sharing dinner and memories with his grandchildren. 'There was laughter,' David said. 'It was warm, and it was what he wanted – surrounded by people who loved him.' Julie, though no longer his partner, remained a constant in his life. 'They weren't together anymore,' David said. 'But they'd known each other for 18 years. She's been a good companion.' David also said his father had become deeply reflective over the last few months. 'He kept saying how grateful he was – for the life he lived, the people he knew, the places he travelled. He never complained,' he said. Walls' illness began with chest and rib pain, which he assumed was just old football wear and tear. But one day, during a routine walk with his dog, he couldn't continue. 'He only lasted 10 minutes,' David said. 'That's when he knew something wasn't right.' He was diagnosed days later. Doctors initially gave him three months to live, but Walls defied expectations. He fought for nearly two years. 'He did it for the grandkids,' David said. 'That was his reason to keep going. He loved being around them.' Before his death, Walls donated all four of his premiership medals – from 1968, 1970, 1972 and 1987 – to Carlton, where they now sit proudly at IKON Park. 'He wanted them to be with the club,' David said. 'That was his football home.' Tributes have poured in. Paul Roos flew from Hawaii to visit. Former players and coaches reached out with stories and memories. 'Some said he was the hardest bloke they ever played under,' David laughed. 'But they were grateful. They knew he meant it, and they respected that.' Walls spent his final days reflecting on what mattered most – his family. 'He wasn't scared,' David said. 'He had made peace with everything. He told us he felt lucky.' Carlton great Stephen Kernahan described Walls as a mentor and friend. 'He was hard – but I loved that about him,' Kernahan said. 'He was a visionary. I'm shattered I won't see him again.' Michael Voss, who played under Walls at the Brisbane Bears, said: 'He drove me to get the best out of myself. He accepted nothing less than your best. He'll be missed.' The AFL will honour Walls' contribution with a celebration of life at the MCG. Brisbane will wear black armbands in tribute.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Voices: Has the assisted dying bill lost its safeguards? Join The Independent Debate
With MPs due to cast their final votes this Friday, the assisted dying bill – spearheaded by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater – has been reshaped in ways that continue to sharply divide opinion. The headline change has removed the requirement for a High Court judge to approve every assisted‑dying request. In its place, Ms Leadbeater has proposed a Voluntary Assisted Dying Commission, chaired by a senior judge (or former judge) and supported by consultant psychiatrists and social workers. Supporters have argued that what Ms Leaderbeater calls a 'Judge Plus' model will speed up decisions and add specialist expertise, while retaining a judicial anchor. Critics – including Diane Abbott and former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron – have warned that stripping out full High Court oversight makes the safeguards too weak and could endanger vulnerable people. Other amendments will require the doctors assessing assisted dying requests to have detailed training on domestic abuse, including coercive control and financial abuse, and reasonable adjustments and safeguards for autistic people and people with learning disabilities. With just 28 MPs needed to defeat it, many who supported the bill at earlier stages – citing the High Court safeguard – may now withdraw. Several MPs who previously abstained have also decided to vote against it, among them Lee Anderson and his former Reform UK colleague Rupert Lowe, who have publicly stated they will change their vote. Come Friday, Parliament must decide: does Leadbeater's revised framework protect patients sufficiently, or has it sacrificed essential safeguards for the sake of expediency? We want to hear from you. Share your thoughts on the assisted dying bill in the comments and vote in the poll below – we'll feature the most compelling responses and discuss the results in the coming days. All you have to do is sign up and register your details – then you can take part in the debate. You can also sign up by clicking 'log in' on the top right-hand corner of the screen.
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The Independent
15-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Has the assisted dying bill lost its safeguards? Join The Independent Debate
With MPs due to cast their final votes this Friday, the assisted dying bill – spearheaded by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater – has been reshaped in ways that continue to sharply divide opinion. The headline change has removed the requirement for a High Court judge to approve every assisted‑dying request. In its place, Ms Leadbeater has proposed a Voluntary Assisted Dying Commission, chaired by a senior judge (or former judge) and supported by consultant psychiatrists and social workers. Supporters have argued that what Ms Leaderbeater calls a 'Judge Plus' model will speed up decisions and add specialist expertise, while retaining a judicial anchor. Critics – including Diane Abbott and former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron – have warned that stripping out full High Court oversight makes the safeguards too weak and could endanger vulnerable people. Other amendments will require the doctors assessing assisted dying requests to have detailed training on domestic abuse, including coercive control and financial abuse, and reasonable adjustments and safeguards for autistic people and people with learning disabilities. With just 28 MPs needed to defeat it, many who supported the bill at earlier stages – citing the High Court safeguard – may now withdraw. Several MPs who previously abstained have also decided to vote against it, among them Lee Anderson and his former Reform UK colleague Rupert Lowe, who have publicly stated they will change their vote. Come Friday, Parliament must decide: does Leadbeater's revised framework protect patients sufficiently, or has it sacrificed essential safeguards for the sake of expediency? We want to hear from you. Share your thoughts on the assisted dying bill in the comments and vote in the poll below – we'll feature the most compelling responses and discuss the results in the coming days. All you have to do is sign up and register your details – then you can take part in the debate. You can also sign up by clicking 'log in' on the top right-hand corner of the screen.
Sky News
02-05-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Assisted Dying: Hundreds would seek to use service in first year of it being available, government report finds
Hundreds of people would seek an assisted death in the first year of a service being available, with that number potentially rising to just over 4,500 after 10 years, according to a government report. A 149-page impact assessment into the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, measuring the financial impact of the proposed legislation, was published on Friday afternoon. It estimated there could potentially be between 273 and 1,311 people applying for an assisted death in the first year, rising to between 1,737 and 7,598 in year 10. And it found the establishment of a Voluntary Assisted Dying Commissioner and panels would cost an estimated average of between £10.9m to £13.6m per year. 3:00 The impact assessment found healthcare costs at the end of life could be reduced by as much as an estimated £10m in the first year of an assisted dying service and almost £60m after 10 years. But, the document noted that cutting end-of-life care costs "is not stated as an objective of the policy". Kim Leadbeater MP introduced the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on 16 October 2024. The bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons on 29 November 2024 with a vote of 330 to 275. Speaking after publication of the document, she said: "I am grateful to the government for these detailed and thorough assessments of the impact of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill currently going through parliament. "I'm pleased that MPs now have two full weeks to consider the assessments before the next Commons debate at Report Stage on 16 May." Supporters of assisted dying will be confident the impact assessment's findings will not sway any MPs and the bill will pass in May and not be derailed ahead of the final vote expected on 13 June. The timing of the document, which has been prepared by civil servants, has caused some anger among opponents of the bill. Some have suggested the report was deliberately released to coincide with the results of the local elections. 'We need better care not killing' Responding to the publication of the impact assessments, Dr Gordon Macdonald, CEO of Care Not Killing, said: "At a time when we have seen how fragile our cash strapped health care system is, how the hospice movement has a £150m blackhole in its budget, and when up to one in four Brits who would benefit from palliative care but aren't currently receiving it, introducing so-called assisted dying would be an incredibly dangerous policy that would put pressure on vulnerable, elderly and disabled people to end their lives prematurely. "We need to fix the UK's broken and patchy palliative care system so everyone can have a dignified death. "We need better care, not killing." Changes to the bill since the original vote mean the High Court will no longer need to sign off on assisted dying cases. Instead, decisions will go through a new panel of medical and legal experts. And the rollout period for setting up assisted dying services has also been extended, doubling to a maximum of four years. Under the proposed law, terminally ill adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live could choose to end their life legally. The decision would need approval from two doctors and the expert panel.
