Dame Esther Rantzen shares assisted dying message | UK | News
Dame Esther Rantzen offered a heartfelt “thank you” to supporters of assisted dying and said she hoped “the law can change as soon as possible so everyone has the chance to choose.” The veteran broadcaster, 85, recorded a conversation with his daughter Rebecca Wilcox, 45, to mark the anniversary of the House of Commons vote in which MPs first supported the principle.
Reflecting on his own health journey, he said he was wrong to assume lung cancer would kill him sooner. And he reiterated his willingness to go to Dignitas if necessary when life becomes “unbearable.” When asked why the assisted dying campaign had become so important, Dame Esther told Rebecca: “Your father was a very keen campaigner for this.
“He’s made documentaries with people who are desperate to have a choice – that’s what it’s all about. It’s about the terminally ill having a choice.”
“So when I was diagnosed with stage four cancer, it was natural for me to think: ‘I’m going to have to fly to Zurich any day now,’ which was a phrase I used on a podcast at the time and it seemed to catch people’s attention, not really, but a little bit.”
Dame Esther’s announcement that she had enrolled with Dignitas in December 2023 sparked a national debate about assisted dying.
The Express, which collected more than 200,000 signatures, backed the petition and sparked debate in Westminster Hall, bringing the issue back to the heart of Parliament.
This is life! The presenter said his cancer was “sensitive to a new drug, so the tumors are shrinking.” He added: “So you and I have had a few Christmases we didn’t expect.
“But I know that if the day ever comes when I find life truly unbearable, I will have to go to Zurich alone because of the terrible stupidity of the current criminal law.
“Everything I hear about how they handle death at Dignitas makes me feel like it’s dignified and caring and compassionate and exactly what I wanted.”
Nearly 40 events are planned across the country on Saturday to mark the anniversary of the second reading vote that put the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on track to become law.
Dame Esther also paid tribute to her supporters who have written to MPs or shared their stories publicly to support change.
She said: “These are the stories that are so compelling and make people realize that this is such an important issue for families like yours.
“When you get to my age, in my 80s, you always lose someone you care about. And in the end, we know how important it is to make choices to preserve the best memories and prevent painful memories from taking over.
“I think your loved ones would be proud of your courage and determination, and we are extremely grateful for your dedication because without it we would never have made it this far.”
Asked what gives her hope for the coming months, Dame Esther said she was inspired by the extraordinary courage of Labor MP Kim Leadbeater, who introduced the bill.
He said: “We have to pay tribute to her and her team because, my God, they’ve been abused, they’ve been insulted, they’ve been attacked, they’ve had so many obstacles thrown their way. So thank you Kim. I think you’ve been very brave.”
Dame Esther said advances in the treatment of diseases, including cancer, also bring hope.
He added: “Let’s not always assume, as I did, that you’ll fall off your perch in five minutes. I was wrong about that.”
“But it still means that I hope beyond hope that I can have a quick, painless death, ideally in my own home, surrounded by people I love. If that is not possible, I am in Zurich, surrounded by people who are as devoted to this ideal as I am.”
“I hope everyone has that choice as soon as possible. I don’t mean that you all have to get up as soon as possible – that’s a bit harsh, that! I mean that the law can be changed as soon as possible so that everyone has the opportunity to choose.”
