Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 21 November 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying

Access to Palliative Care and Social Supports: Discussion

Photo of Gino KennyGino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I understand that perfectly. I know I probably repeat myself here every week, but I think it is a fundamental human right of a person, in certain circumstances, to say he or she does not want to go through this. As our guests have stated, if people want to refuse medical treatment, that is their prerogative. What if somebody says he or she does not want to go through days, weeks or months of pain and wants to be able to say, “I want to stop”? That is what this committee must grapple with but that, to me, is the fundamental question when it comes to assisted dying.