Latest news with #terminalillness
Russia Today
3 days ago
- General
- Russia Today
France approves right-to-die law
France's lower house of parliament has approved a controversial bill to legalize assisted dying for adults with terminal illnesses, amid deep divisions in a country with strong Catholic traditions. The National Assembly voted 305 to 199 in favor of the measure, which is backed by President Emmanuel Macron. The bill now moves to the Senate and will return to the lower house for a second reading. Supporters hope it will become law by 2027. France currently allows what is called passive euthanasia – such as withdrawing life support – and deep sedation before death. Under the bill, patients could request lethal medication, which they would take themselves, or if physically unable, have administered by a doctor or nurse. They must be over 18, hold French citizenship or residency, and be suffering from an irreversible, advanced, or terminal illness causing constant, untreatable pain. People with severe psychiatric conditions or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's would not qualify. A medical team would assess each case. After a period of reflection, the patient could receive the drug at home, in a care home, or medical facility. The government described the bill as 'an ethical response to the need to support the sick and the suffering,' calling it 'neither a new right nor a freedom… but a balance between respect and personal autonomy.' Macron hailed the vote as 'an important step' toward a more humane approach to end-of-life care. A separate bill establishing a right to palliative care passed unopposed. France's proposal would be more restrictive than laws in countries such as Belgium or the Netherlands, where euthanasia – in which doctors give a lethal injection at the patient's request – has been legal since 2002 and extended to minors. Similar laws exist in Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, Canada, Australia, and Colombia. Medically assisted suicide, where patients take prescribed lethal medication themselves, is legal in Switzerland and several US states. Right-to-die campaigners have welcomed the law, though describing it as relatively modest in scope. 'We've been waiting for this for decades,' said Stephane Gemmani of the ADMD association. Critics warn the definitions are too broad, potentially allowing assisted dying for patients who could live for years. Some fear the bill could undermine medical ethics, erode care standards, and expose vulnerable people to subtle pressure to die. 'It would be like a loaded pistol left on my bedside table,' a 44-year-old woman with Parkinson's disease told a protest outside parliament, according to the BBC. This month, France's religious leaders issued a joint statement denouncing the 'dangers' of an 'anthropological rupture.' Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau wrote on X this week that it is 'not a bill of fraternity but a bill of abandonment.'
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
French MPs back law to allow assisted dying
French MPs have voted to allow some people in the last stages of a terminal illness the right to assisted National Assembly approved the bill, which is backed by President Emmanuel Macron, by 305 votes to 199. It will now go to the upper house, the Senate, before a second reading in the National Assembly. Supporters hope it will become law by would make France the eighth country in the European Union to allow a version of assisted currently framed, the French version would be not as permissive as in the Netherlands or neighbouring Belgium which were the first countries in Europe to legalise assisted dying. A separate bill creating a right to palliative care went through unopposed. It is estimated that 48% of French patients who require palliative care do not get of the two-week debate in the Assembly had focused on the conditions under which a patient could qualify for assisted approved formula is for "people struck by a serious and incurable disease" that is "life-threatening and in its advanced or terminal phases", who are in "constant physical or psychological suffering".The patient would have to be able to "freely manifest his or her intention". They would have to wait 48 hours and then confirm authorised, the lethal dose would be self-administered by the patient; or by a medical assistant if the patient were would be provided by a doctor, but only after consultation with were allowed a free vote on the bill – a reflection of how differences of opinion on the matter defy party lines. Broadly though, the measure was backed by the centre and left and opposed on the right and populist critics – echoing views of the once-dominant Catholic Church – were concerned that definitions in the bill were too broad, opening the way for assisted dying for patients who might have years to in other countries where the ethical issues have been hotly debated, opponents fear that vulnerable elderly people could feel under pressure to die in order to remove a burden from their a demonstration against the bill outside the National Assembly on Saturday, one 44-year-old woman suffering from Parkinson's disease said it would be like a "loaded pistol left on my bedside table".Some left-wingers wanted to toughen the government's bill by widening access to assisted dying to minors, non-French nationals and patients who leave instructions before going into a the bill, medical staff who oppose assisted dying would not be obliged to carry it out. However, it would be a crime punishable by two years in jail to try to block an act of assisted wanted to create another crime – of incitement to assisted dying. But this amendment was rejected by Minister François Bayrou, who is a practising Catholic, said that if he had a vote on the bill he would abstain. As he is not an MP, he did not have a vote.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Healthy 33-year-old hit with common 'post Christmas' problem - it was the first sign of terminal cancer that cost her 13 organs
A 39 year-old woman is striving to enjoy the time she has left, after being dealt a shock diagnosis of appendix cancer that has left her body 'riddled' with tumours. Rebecca Hind, from Cumbria, was given the devastating news in 2019, aged 33, shortly after suffering just the symptoms of what she thought were food poisoning. What followed was years of painstaking surgeries to remove 13 of her organs, more than eight gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and medically-induced menopause at the age of 35. Heartbreakingly, the latest round of treatment failed to keep the cancer at bay and doctors have told her the disease is terminal—they don't know how long she has left to live. Despite this, she's trying to have as 'normal' a life as possible. The fitness instructor said: 'I turn 40 this year and I want to say yes to everything. I've been surfing, in a hot air balloon and dog sledding so far. 'My latest challenge is Chris Hoy's Tour de 4 90km cycle to raise money for charity.' The ordeal began in December 2018, after a Christmas work meal that appeared to result in a bout of food poisoning. 'A few of us were unwell—but whilst others recovered quickly, I remained ill eight weeks later,' she said. Initially her GP prescribed several rounds of antibiotics, but when they didn't work she was referred to Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle. Scans performed by doctors there found cancerous masses in her abdomen which it was later revealed had spread widely to her other organs through a jelly-like cancerous liquid called mucin. She was diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), a two-in-a-million rare form of appendix cancer, which took the life of Hollywood star Audrey Hepburn. The most common symptoms of PMP include abdominal pain, swelling, and changes in bowel habits, as well as loss of appetite and unexplained weight gain.' In Ms Hind's case the cancer was found to be advanced—it had fused to the surface of several abdominal organs, forming solid tumours. She said: 'By the time they found it, I was pretty much riddled with it.' She had two surgeries to remove thirteen organs and body parts that had become cancerous, followed by eight rounds of chemotherapy. In April 2019, she had the first operation to remove her appendix, navel and part of the abdominal cavity. It was revealed the cancer was high-grade and a more aggressive form of PMP which present on several organs. In November 2019, she travelled to Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital for specialists to perform a procedure to try and remove all the abnormal tissue. The extreme and lengthy procedure, which is dubbed 'the mother of all surgeries', lasted 12 hours. The surgeons removed her gallbladder, spleen, large bowel, womb, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, rectum and abdominal tissue known as the omentum. A portion of her stomach and small bowel, as well as the surface layer of her liver and both sides of her diaphragm were also removed. The extraction of her reproductive organs kicked her into the early menopause, aged just 35. 'It was an assault on the body,' she said. 'I was in hospital recovering on and off for months after.' Ms Hind must take a cocktail of 50 to 60 tablets including codeine, Imodium and hormone replacement therapy. Her diet is also restricted, and she is forced to take an electrolyte fluid solution with food supplements. Devastatingly, in the summer of 2020, she was told the surgery had failed to eradicate the cancer. While she participated a clinical trial for a new medicine in 2022, she had to stop taking the drug when it made her too unwell. In September she will be taking part in Chris Hoy's 'Tour de 4', a bike event aiming to challenge people's perspectives of stage four cancer. So far, she has raised over £1000 so far for Pseudomyxoma Survivor, a small non-profit organisation run by patients and caregivers to assist those affected by PMP. She said: 'As a stage 4 patient with a penchant for biking I couldn't turn this down and not being one for half measures I'm aiming to complete the full 90km route. 'This is going to be a particularly big challenge for me as last summer, a large tumour in my pelvis caused a bowel obstruction which landed me in hospital for six weeks to have another major operation not with the intension of curing me but 'to get me out of trouble' as I couldn't eat or drink properly. 'Once again, I'm starting to develop my fitness from scratch and I haven't been on my bike properly for a year.' Alongside raising awareness and fundraising for a PMP charity she has been incredibly active surfing, cycling and dog sledding. 'The message I want to get across is when you have a stoma or an incurable diagnosis, things will be incredibly difficult. 'My daily life is a rollercoaster—but with the right attitude, you can still achieve a lot. 'And more importantly, enjoy whatever time you have.'
ABC News
23-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Firefighter and presumptive rights campaigner Simon Lund farewelled at funeral
Victorian firefighter Simon Lund has been farewelled at a funeral in Gippsland today, after spending his dying days campaigning for a better deal for others like him with a terminal illness related to their work. More than 500 people, including some of the state's top fire chiefs and local Labor MP Harriet Shing, attended the service at Churchill in Gippsland. During the eulogy, family friend Kellie O'Callaghan described Mr Lund as "the kind of person who left a mark on every life he touched". "He was loyal, kind, principled and loving. It wasn't just a job, it was a calling," she said. CFA acting chief fire officer Garry Cook presented Mr Lund's wife Tracie and their three children with one of the organisation's highest accolades — a Chief's Commendation for exemplary service. "I wish I could pick up the phone and say, 'Lundy, it's Cooky, you deserve this'," he told the service. In her tribute, Ms Lund said her husband's legacy would live on through their efforts to change the state's presumptive rights legislation for other fire staff. "When the Hazelwood mine fire devastated our community, we stood together," she wrote in her eulogy, read out at the funeral by Ms O'Callaghan. Funeral attendees sobbed as Mr Lund's casket was driven away in a vintage fire truck, through a guard of honour formed by more than 100 CFA members. Mr Lund worked at the CFA as a senior technical field officer for more than 25 years. In his role, setting up communication gear at command centres, he attended some of the biggest fires in the state's recent history, including the toxic Hazelwood mine 56-year-old was diagnosed with stage 4 oesophageal cancer last year, which his doctor attributed to his exposure to smoke, fumes and ash from fires, including chemical fires and the mine fire. The Firefighters' Presumptive Rights Compensation and Fire Services Legislation Amendment (Reform) Act 2019 ensures Victorian firefighters diagnosed with certain cancers are entitled to compensation. The act includes a list of 18 cancers and an associated career period that paid and volunteer firefighters, as well as vehicle and equipment maintenance employees, must have served to qualify under the scheme. However, professional, technical and administrative employees are not eligible — and as Mr Lund worked in an IT role, he was not covered. Instead, he had to go back and find old pay slips and time sheets to prove 25 years' worth of exposure to risk from fires to make a successful WorkCover claim. A week before he died on May 12, Mr Lund told the ABC the law needed to change. Ross Sottile is a lawyer at Maurice Blackburn who worked with Mr Lund and his family to get a WorkCover claim approved. "Presumptive legislation is beneficial legislation that makes the WorkCover claim process simpler, so what it does is it presumes that someone's work or volunteer service and their cancer condition are related," he said. "Although [Mr Lund] had ticked off that he had the correct cancer under the presumptive legislation and he had the correct service period in terms of the years that he had spent with the CFA, the definition of firefighter just did not cover his role." Mr Sottile said not only were workers then faced with having to prove their cancer was work-related under a WorkCover claim, but they were missing out on crucial entitlements. "In doing that, it's a delay in workers accessing crucial entitlements to medical expenses and weekly compensation so that they can focus on things like getting treatment, instead of worrying about the financial burden of getting treatment and paying for mortgages," he said. Mr Sottile said the current definition of firefighter under the act did not allow for the practical realities many fire staffers faced in the field. "I think when the legislation was drafted, it just didn't take into account all these other sorts of workers that are actually on the ground alongside our firefighters," he said. The Australian Services Union is campaigning for the legislation to be expanded to cover all professional, technical and administrative staff who attend incidents, or are exposed to contaminants. Victorian branch secretary Tash Wark, who attended Mr Lund's funeral, said the union was also negotiating with the CFA for a better staff tracking system. "So when exposures have occurred, there is an easy pathway back for people to be able to demonstrate what roles they have performed, when," she said. "Simon's greatest legacy will be his fight to change presumptive laws to include his training and administration colleagues to ensure they are covered," she said. Minister for Emergency Services Vicki Ward declined the ABC's request for an interview. In a previous statement, a spokesperson for the Victorian government said it would "continue to monitor whether Victoria's presumptive compensation legislation appropriately reflects the increased risks some emergency service workers can face due to their service".
Fox News
21-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Delaware's assisted suicide bill signed into law, making it the 11th state with such a statute
Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer, a Democrat, signed a bill Tuesday legalizing physician-assisted suicide for certain terminally ill patients, arguing that the measure is about "compassion, dignity, and respect for personal choice." The End-of-Life Options Act, which takes effect next year, allows mentally capable adults who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and given six months or less to live to request a prescription to self-administer and end their lives. "We're acknowledging today that even in the last moments of life, compassion matters," Meyer said at the bill signing. "Every Delawarean should have the right to face their final chapter with peace, dignity and control." "This signing today is about relieving suffering and giving families the comfort of knowing that their loved one was able to pass on their own terms, without unnecessary pain, and surrounded by the people they love most," he continued. Delaware is now the 11th state to allow medical aid in dying, joining California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. Washington, D.C., also permits physician-assisted suicide. "Today, Delaware joins a growing number of states in recognizing that end-of-life decisions belong to patients—not politicians," Meyer said. "This law is about compassion, dignity, and respect. It gives people facing unimaginable suffering the ability to choose peace and comfort, surrounded by those they love. After years of debate, I am proud to sign HB 140 into law." Several other countries, including Canada, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands, have also legalized so-called death with dignity. The Delaware Legislature narrowly rejected the measure last year, but Meyer pushed for it this session and it passed last month. The governor's signature now ends nearly a decade of debate on the issue. Under the new law, sponsored by Democrat state Rep. Eric Morrison, patients considering assisted suicide in the state must be presented with other options for end-of-life care, including comfort care, palliative care, hospice and pain control. The bill requires two waiting periods and a second medical opinion on a patient's prognoses before they can obtain a prescription for lethal medication. State Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, a Democrat, said the law "is about honoring the autonomy and humanity of those facing unimaginable suffering from terminal illness." "This legislation exists due to the courage of patients, family members, and advocates who have shared deeply personal stories of love, loss and suffering," he said in a statement.
