Dr. Hannah Linane:

I can answer that. We have also listened to many people coming up to this meeting. I believe there is a concern that there is an attitude that dying is not a dignified process in itself. Even the name of the Bill suggests that the process of assisted dying is somehow equated with dignity, when dying itself is a very dignified process. Having had the privilege of looking after people in what is a very profound and vulnerable time in someone's life, I have seen some of the most dignified end-of-life scenarios. I believe much of dignity is wrapped up in societal attitudes to what encompasses dignity. Yes, autonomy is an important part of that and is something that we try to ensure the person still has over so many things. That comes into advance care planning about what the person values and into ensuring we can support them in their value-based system to ensure their family is supported. A big piece of that is around education about what dying looks like. There can be a sense that all dying is perhaps painful or that some of the signs that someone is dying could be interpreted as distress when, really, it is a normal part of the dying process.