Latest news with #dignity
Sky News
18 hours ago
- Health
- Sky News
Assisted dying bill: How both sides of debate reacted to historic vote
People on both sides of the assisted dying debate have told Sky News how they feel about the outcome of today's vote – and while some are popping open champagne, others are "incredibly disappointed". More than 300 MPs this afternoon backed a bill that gives people in England and Wales who have less than six months to live the right to apply for an assisted death. Each request will be evaluated by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist. Today's historic vote means the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will now go to the House of Lords for further scrutiny before becoming law. Following the landmark vote, individuals for and against it have shared their feelings on the result. Frank Tate-Sutton - For 6:04 Frank Tate-Sutton is terminally ill and told Sky News she's relieved the bill has passed, even though the law won't be changed in time for her. "These are happy tears," she said. "I am emotional. It's a very difficult subject for everybody." Ms Tate-Sutton said her quality of life is "very important - and I'm losing it". "I don't want to die without dignity, without it being my choice, without my family knowing that this is what I want," she continued. "As much as they [my family] want me alive, do they want to see me lying in my living room in a hospital bed, taking all these drugs, not being able to talk, not being able to control my bodily functions? "That is not a life, for me - living on all the medications and not being able to exist without that… the side effects and everything." Mike Smith - Against 5:20 Mike Smith is a spokesperson for the disability rights group Not Dead Yet - and he has been left "incredibly disappointed" by the outcome of the vote. "This particular bill had so many failings in the way safeguards are constructed and the significant scope for coercion, whether it's overt or subliminal," he said. Mr Smith says he fears some people will "end up ending their lives earlier than they should do or want to". "There are so many disabled people around the country that have told us they're absolutely scared." "I think it's this inherent fear people have about being disabled that drives this very emotional response on this really complex topic," he explained. "What we know is, with good palliative care, social care, access to housing and an income, many disabled people ... can lead amazing lives." 6:48 Rebecca Wilcox and her TV presenter mother Dame Esther Rantzen, who has terminal cancer, have long been campaigning for a change to the UK's law on assisted dying. Speaking from Parliament Square as fellow supporters of the bill popped champagne behind her, Ms Wilcox described today's vote as "an extraordinary moment". "It means so much to me," she said. "I spoke to mum and her one word to describe it was 'wow'. "She didn't think she was going to live to see the debate, let alone a conclusion that went our way." In response to concerns about safeguarding, she said it will "bring in layer upon layer of safeguards". "We're going to have scrutiny upon scrutiny for every case and at the moment, there is no scrutiny," she said. "Coercion could be happening as we speak. "There is now protection for vulnerable people, by having this bill passed." Dr Gordon Macdonald - Against Dr Macdonald said the bill passing with a majority of 23 - less than half what its second reading achieved - is proof that "the more people have thought about this issue, the more they've had doubts". The doctor, who is the CEO of anti-euthanasia organisation Care not Killing, said: "We will see what happens when it gets to the [House of] Lords, the Lords will hopefully give it more rigorous scrutiny than happened in the Commons". His biggest concern is "for people who are vulnerable, who will feel pressure to end their lives". "That might come from external forces, but it's more likely to just be internalised pressure," Dr Macdonald said. "They'll feel they're a burden on their family and friends, conscious of the cost of care, and think they should do the decent thing, as they would see it in that thinking." It's "of course a terrible message for society to send out to people," he said.
Sky News
20 hours ago
- Health
- Sky News
Assisted dying bill: People on both sides of the debate react to historic vote
People on both sides of the assisted dying debate have told Sky News how they feel about the outcome of today's vote – and while some are popping open champagne, others are "incredibly disappointed". More than 300 MPs this afternoon backed a bill that gives people in England and Wales who have less than six months to live the right to apply for an assisted death. Each request will be evaluated by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist. Today's historic vote means the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will now go to the House of Lords for further scrutiny before becoming law. Following the landmark vote, individuals for and against it have shared their feelings on the result. Frank Tate-Sutton - For 6:04 Frank Tate-Sutton is terminally ill and told Sky News she's relieved the bill has passed, even though the law won't be changed in time for her. "These are happy tears," she said. "I am emotional. It's a very difficult subject for everybody." Ms Tate-Sutton said her quality of life is "very important - and I'm losing it". "I don't want to die without dignity, without it being my choice, without my family knowing that this is what I want," she continued. "As much as they [my family] want me alive, do they want to see me lying in my living room in a hospital bed, taking all these drugs, not being able to talk, not being able to control my bodily functions? "That is not a life, for me - living on all the medications and not being able to exist without that… the side effects and everything." Mike Smith - Against 5:20 Mike Smith is a spokesperson for the disability rights group Not Dead Yet - and he has been left "incredibly disappointed" by the outcome of the vote. "This particular bill had so many failings in the way safeguards are constructed and the significant scope for coercion, whether it's overt or subliminal," he said. Mr Smith says he fears some people will "end up ending their lives earlier than they should do or want to". "There are so many disabled people around the country that have told us they're absolutely scared." "I think it's this inherent fear people have about being disabled that drives this very emotional response on this really complex topic," he explained. "What we know is, with good palliative care, social care, access to housing and an income, many disabled people ... can lead amazing lives." 6:48 Rebecca Wilcox and her TV presenter mother Dame Esther Rantzen, who has terminal cancer, have long been campaigning for a change to the UK's law on assisted dying. Speaking from Parliament Square as fellow supporters of the bill popped champagne behind her, Ms Wilcox described today's vote as "an extraordinary moment". "It means so much to me," she said. "I spoke to mum and her one word to describe it was 'wow'. "She didn't think she was going to live to see the debate, let alone a conclusion that went our way." In response to concerns about safeguarding, she said it will "bring in layer upon layer of safeguards". "We're going to have scrutiny upon scrutiny for every case and at the moment, there is no scrutiny," she said. "Coercion could be happening as we speak. "There is now protection for vulnerable people, by having this bill passed." Dr Gordon Macdonald - Against Dr Macdonald said the bill passing with a majority of 23 - less than half what its second reading achieved - is proof that "the more people have thought about this issue, the more they've had doubts". The doctor, who is the CEO of anti-euthanasia organisation Care not Killing, said: "We will see what happens when it gets to the [House of] Lords, the Lords will hopefully give it more rigorous scrutiny than happened in the Commons". His biggest concern is "for people who are vulnerable, who will feel pressure to end their lives". "That might come from external forces, but it's more likely to just be internalised pressure," Dr Macdonald said. "They'll feel they're a burden on their family and friends, conscious of the cost of care, and think they should do the decent thing, as they would see it in that thinking." It's "of course a terrible message for society to send out to people," he said.
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
Model posted ‘revenge porn' photos of woman having sex on Instagram and branded her a ‘tramp' – but is spared jail
A MODEL posted "revenge porn" photos of a woman having sex and branded her a "tramp" - but has been spared jail. Louise Billman uploaded "multiple" grabs of the victim to Instagram that showed her "various sexual positions". The 40-year-old captioned the illicit images with a series of slurs - including "tramp" and "s**g". Despite leaving the victim feeling like she had been "stripped of her dignity", Billman managed to swerve a jail sentence. She was instead handed a 20 week sentence, suspended for 12 months, after she was found guilty of disclosing private sexual images without consent. Cambridge Magistrates' Court heard the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was left anxious over the images. Prosecutor James Quelch also said the ordeal in June 2023 had "affected the victim's day-to-day activities" and made her "scared" of the potential consequences. In her own harrowing statement, the woman said: "I felt like I had been stripped of my dignity… my anxiety has increased, I am constantly thinking that people who know me have seen the images. "I am worried there will be repercussions for my family and child. In her posts there were also images of my child. "I am constantly worried about the images surfacing." Rachel Buck, mitigating, said her client was of "good character" and had been "ostracised" by her family for supporting her partner, Joey Baptiste, during his own court ordeal. Baptiste, 41, was spared jail in 2021 after admitting a charge of coercive control against an ex. He also caused the woman physical harm by dragging her out of a bed and throwing her against a wall. On another occasion, he smashed her head against a car dashboard, the court heard. Billman had begged the judge to let Baptiste walk free as she was heavily pregnant with his twins at the time. The thug later found himself back in court after crashing Dragon Den star Ross Mendham's £100k Ferrari. He accompanied Billman to her sentencing hearing but the pair did not comment as they left the building. 6 6 6 6
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Jewellery model who posted 'revenge porn' photos online dodges prison as victim says she was left 'stripped of her dignity'
A jewellery model posted photos online of a woman having sex with a man alongside insulting comments including 'slag', a court heard today. Louise Billman uploaded 'multiple' screen shots from videos of the woman she managed to obtain, showing her in 'various sexual positions'. The court heard the victim, who can't be named for legal reasons, had been 'stripped of her dignity' by the revenge porn and feared who else had seen the images. Billman, 40, appeared at Cambridge Magistrates Court to be sentenced after being found guilty of disclosing private sexual images without consent at the same court following a trial in May. She escaped jail after the Bench heard she had a previously unblemished record and even reassured her before sentencing her. Chairman of the Bench Stephanie Bishop said: 'Do not panic when I tell you this but we are sending you to prison for a total period of 20 weeks. 'However, sentence will be suspended for 12 months.' Billman, of Norwich, showed no emotion and stared straight ahead as she learned her fate. She used Instagram to post images of the woman having sex with the man, who is also entitled to anonymity. Comments accompanying the images included 'slag', 'tramp' and 'stalkaway'. Prosecutor James Quelch said the incident had 'affected the victim's day-to-day activities' and made her 'scared' of the potential consequences. The woman said in a victim impact statement that was read out in court: 'I felt like I had been stripped of my dignity… my anxiety has increased, I am constantly thinking that people who know me have seen the images. 'I am worried there will be repercussions for my family and child. In her posts there were also images of my child. I am constantly worried about the images surfacing.' Natalie Buck, defending, said her client was of 'good character' and had been ostracised by her family for supporting her partner, Joey Baptiste, who accompanied her to court today. Baptiste, 41, escaped jail in 2021 after admitting a charge of coercive control against a former partner when Billman begged with the judge to spare him. Heavily pregnant with his twins at the time, she told Norwich Crown Court he had turned his life around and was attending AA meetings. 'I am completely dependent on Joe emotionally and financially,' she added. 'We've taken out a £12,000 loan to fund IVF and we have a mortgage to pay.' Baptiste, 41, had caused 'severe psychological harm' and physical injuries to his victim in a series of incidents, including dragging her from her bed one night and throwing her against a wall. On another occasion, he smashed her head against a car dashboard, the court heard. But Judge Alice Robinson said he had 'shown evidence he could be rehabilitated' after hearing from Billman and gave him a two-year suspended jail term. Baptiste also appeared in Norwich Magistrates Court in February when he received nine penalty points on his driving licence for crashing a £100,000 red Ferrari F430 in Norwich into a row of bicycle racks and narrowly avoiding a jogger. The incident, which was captured on CCTV, happened after he was allowed behind the wheel of the car by former Dragon's Den contestant Ross Mendham, who won an investment for a low-calorie food range in 2013. Witnesses heard Baptiste – who threatened a photographer outside court today - revving the engine at a set of traffic lights, with one saying they had 'never seen driving quite so bad and quite so fast down that bit of road'. He admitted careless driving and could have been banned under totting up rules as he already had four penalty points. But the court accepted losing his licence would cause unnecessary hardship to the construction machinery driver. Miss Buck told the court today: 'It is quite rare for somebody of such good character to be before the court… 'She supported Baptiste through his trial… some members of her family ostracised her for supporting her partner, apart from her mother. 'By June 2023, she had been cut off by lots of people and had no voice and no narrative. She found herself in a position where she was helpless.' Billman, who models jewellery for a high street store in Norwich, was also ordered to pay £200 compensation to her victim for the 'ongoing fear and trauma' she was suffering. There was also a £154 surcharge and a £650 contribution to court costs – reduced to £400 due to her 'financial situation'. Billman didn't comment as she left court.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Jockey Club launches project to bring end-of-life care to disabled Hongkongers
A HK$290 million (US$36.9 million) support project by the Hong Kong Jockey Club will bring end-of-life care to the city's disabled community, addressing a critical service gap and empowering the group with dignity and autonomy. Building on the success of a 10-year support project targeting the elderly, the new five-year initiative launched on Monday would be expected to serve more than 3,000 physically and intellectually disabled people, those in mental recovery and about 4,000 carers. Under the project, frontline workers from 10 non-governmental organisations underwent training from mid-2024 to deliver support services, ranging from advance care planning to life and death education, primarily in care home settings. During the process of advance care planning, patients would be guided to express their preferences in areas such as personal goals and treatment expectations, and in making advance directives for refusing life-sustaining procedures such as resuscitation and artificial feeding and hydration when they are dying. Other services included honouring the final wishes of clients, facilitating communication with family members and providing bereavement support. Professor Amy Chow Yin-man, project director and head of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), said the end-of-life care model for disabled people was underdeveloped worldwide.
