Renowned British photographer Rankin has collaborated with Dignity in Dying to demand the revival of the assisted dying bill, which was stalled in the Lords. The bill, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, aims to provide terminally ill individuals with the option to end their lives in a dignified manner.
Rankin’s involvement in the campaign began when he met Paola Marra, a 53-year-old woman with terminal bowel cancer, at a pop-up studio in London. Marra had come to have her portrait taken for her final social media post before traveling to a Swiss clinic to end her life.
The photograph, which shows Marra giving the finger to cancer, was released after her death and sparked a wave of support for the assisted dying campaign. Rankin has since released a series of videos featuring interviews with terminally ill individuals, including Barbara Shooter, 69, and Maddie Cowey, 28.
Shooter, who features in the videos, drove her husband to a Swiss clinic in 2022 after he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. She said that having control over his death was “powerful” and allowed him to have a “calm, peaceful” end. Shooter has since been diagnosed with the same disease and is advocating for the right to choose her own end-of-life care.
Cowey, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at 18, said that not having the option to choose how and when she dies is “really scary.” She hopes that the videos will raise awareness about the issue and prompt MPs to take action, ultimately giving her peace and hope.
Sarah Wootton, the chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said that the current system is “cruel” and leaves dying people with limited options. She emphasized that the issue is “bigger than assisted dying” and that MPs have a responsibility to finish what they started, as the justice system is under strain.
New polling by Opinium has shown that 69% of the public supports the continuation of the debate on assisted dying, while 61% believe that the government should ensure MPs and peers have enough time to consider and vote on the bill.
The private member’s ballot is set to take place on Thursday, and Rankin’s videos are part of a campaign to urge MPs to back the bill again. The videos feature intimate interviews with eight people, aged 19 to 77, who are terminally ill or will ultimately reach that stage.
Assisted Dying: A Matter of Choice
For many terminally ill individuals, the option to end their lives in a dignified manner is a matter of personal choice. Shooter, who has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, said that she wants to have control over her own end-of-life care. “I want my choice,” she said.
Cowey, who has been living with cancer for over a decade, said that having the option to choose how and when she dies would give her “a lot of peace and hope.” They hope that the videos will raise awareness about the issue and prompt MPs to take action.
Rankin’s involvement in the campaign has brought attention to the issue, and his videos have sparked a wave of support for the assisted dying campaign. As the private member’s ballot approaches, it remains to be seen whether MPs will back the bill again and provide terminally ill individuals with the option to end their lives in a dignified manner.
According to the NHS, motor neurone disease is a rare condition that affects the brain and nerves. The disease is progressive, meaning that it gets worse over time, and there is currently no cure.
The Public Health England website provides information on end-of-life care and the options available to individuals who are terminally ill.
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