Author Ian McEwan has expressed his support for the extension of assisted dying rights to dementia sufferers, suggesting that it should be done in a gradual and thoughtful manner. The author, who is a patron of Dignity in Dying, believes that individuals with less than six months to live are entitled to make informed decisions about their own end-of-life care.
McEwan's stance on assisted dying for dementia patients comes from personal experience, having witnessed the struggles faced by his family members who suffered from the condition. He notes that those with dementia often find themselves in a state of "being alive and dead all at once," highlighting the immense emotional burden this can place on their loved ones.
The author's comments come as the UK's assisted dying bill faces an uncertain future, with some MPs and peers warning that it may be impossible to pass the bill before the end of the parliamentary session in May. McEwan acknowledges that the bill has undergone over 1,000 amendments, which he believes is a testament to its contentious nature.
When asked whether he would support adding an amendment to extend assisted dying rights to dementia sufferers, McEwan replied that it was a matter of gradual progression, but one that required careful consideration and the involvement of doctors and dispassionate individuals in making judgment calls. He emphasized that his motivation stems from a desire to prevent patients from suffering from unbearable physical pain.
In other news, McEwan discussed his latest book, What We Can Know, which explores the theme of dementia, as well as his concerns about social media's impact on society. The author expressed skepticism about the benefits of social media and acknowledged that he misses the solitude of the 1970s, a time when "one of the great luxuries of civilization – solitude – was bounteously available." He also expressed support for social media bans, particularly in regards to children under the age of 16.
Lastly, McEwan touched on his novel about climate change, set in a post-apocalyptic Britain where the country has become an archipelago due to rising sea levels. Despite feeling that the world is in a dire state, he maintains a "little streak of optimism" that humanity will find a way to survive and adapt.
Throughout his conversation, McEwan highlighted the importance of considering multiple perspectives when discussing end-of-life care and climate change, and emphasized the need for empathy and compassion in these sensitive topics.
McEwan's stance on assisted dying for dementia patients comes from personal experience, having witnessed the struggles faced by his family members who suffered from the condition. He notes that those with dementia often find themselves in a state of "being alive and dead all at once," highlighting the immense emotional burden this can place on their loved ones.
The author's comments come as the UK's assisted dying bill faces an uncertain future, with some MPs and peers warning that it may be impossible to pass the bill before the end of the parliamentary session in May. McEwan acknowledges that the bill has undergone over 1,000 amendments, which he believes is a testament to its contentious nature.
When asked whether he would support adding an amendment to extend assisted dying rights to dementia sufferers, McEwan replied that it was a matter of gradual progression, but one that required careful consideration and the involvement of doctors and dispassionate individuals in making judgment calls. He emphasized that his motivation stems from a desire to prevent patients from suffering from unbearable physical pain.
In other news, McEwan discussed his latest book, What We Can Know, which explores the theme of dementia, as well as his concerns about social media's impact on society. The author expressed skepticism about the benefits of social media and acknowledged that he misses the solitude of the 1970s, a time when "one of the great luxuries of civilization – solitude – was bounteously available." He also expressed support for social media bans, particularly in regards to children under the age of 16.
Lastly, McEwan touched on his novel about climate change, set in a post-apocalyptic Britain where the country has become an archipelago due to rising sea levels. Despite feeling that the world is in a dire state, he maintains a "little streak of optimism" that humanity will find a way to survive and adapt.
Throughout his conversation, McEwan highlighted the importance of considering multiple perspectives when discussing end-of-life care and climate change, and emphasized the need for empathy and compassion in these sensitive topics.
they're already dealing with so much emotional pain and struggling to cope, it's heartbreaking that they may not have a choice in how they want to live out their final days 
McEwan is totally right, we need to be more thoughtful and gradual in our approach to assisted dying for dementia sufferers, involving experts and making sure everyone's on the same page 
assisted dying is such a tough topic... i think its about respecting people's autonomy & not making them suffer 
. we gotta consider all angles though - what would happen to their loved ones? how would it be implemented? gradual as mcewan suggests sounds like a good way forward 
. dementia sufferers are already struggling with loss of identity & sanity, can you imagine being forced to choose when its too late for them to make decisions 
I'm literally shook by Ian McEwan's comments on assisted dying for dementia sufferers! 
. I think it's so brave of him to share his personal experience and be an advocate for change 
. The fact that he wants to see it done gradually, with careful consideration from doctors and others, makes total sense to me 
. Can you imagine having to watch someone suffer without being able to do anything about it? 
! And omg his thoughts on social media 
are SO true... I'm all for a good ol' fashioned break from the constant noise and comparison 
. I mean, those with dementia are already dealing with so much loss of control and identity, can't we at least give them some control over their own end-of-life care? 
And I love how he frames it as a gradual progression, not just throwing the baby out with the bathwater 
. It's all about finding that balance between compassion and... well, not wanting people to suffer 
. And hey, if we're gonna be all about empathy, let's also listen to McEwan's concerns about social media 
I mean, who doesn't want to be able to chill out at home with dementia, right? Like, "Hey, doc, I'm good, just wanna watch Netflix and eat some cookies...and maybe take a nap." Not gonna happen, sadly. Ian McEwan's got some valid points tho, we should definitely make sure people with dementia can make their own decisions about end-of-life care. 
It's not like they're just gonna sit around twiddling their thumbs while the world ends anyway...although that sounds kinda nice too 
.
Not me, that's for sure.
. I mean, he misses the solitude of the 70s... ain't that just the best thing to miss? 
.
? It feels like the world is literally ending as we speak 
. But McEwan's optimism gives me hope 