Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 5 December 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying

Protecting Vulnerable People: Discussion

Dr. Rosaleen McDonagh:

I do not mean to be rude but I could be wrong. Suicide rates are above and beyond the average. One could argue I am conflating end of life euthanasia with suicide but in terms of where I live and the people I love and have buried, suicide has marked my family and my community. I fear that if a person is disabled, old, or anything else, if that option is legalised we will lose ourselves in the vacuum of an option that is harmful. Also, as we saw this morning, I know in my own life when I say "No" people often think I am inept so I am not even convinced by the guidelines. I will ask Professor O'Neill to say something.