Derek - Interview 27  

Derek - Interview 27

Age at Interview: 73
Sex: Male
Age at Diagnosis: 68
Background: Derek is a retired general manager, married, with 6 adult children. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

Brief outline:Derek was diagnosed 5-6 years ago (2001 or 2002). His arms and legs are affected but he is still able to walk unaided round the house. Finds his memory for words is being affected.

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He personally would never consider assisted dying, both for his own sake and his wife's, but he believes other people should have the choice if they want to.

 



They had one [TV programme] a few months ago about the chappie that went to Switzerland and got himself injected, you know. Now that I couldn't do. I wouldn't - for her [wife's] benefit, for one thing - and the other thing is I'm too much of a bloody coward, mate. I don't like needles at the best of times. And when they're going to fill me up with something that's going to knock me off, that's a little bit round the corner. I don't favour those sort of things. But I don't worry about them then. I'll sit and watch it, you know, just to see what sort of feedback you get back from the people that are around him and things like that, that actually went with him to do the job.

Do you think it's something that you would want other people to have the chance to do, even if you wouldn't choose it? 

Oh, I think, morally I think that it is actually a simple fact that you should be given the choice, you know. No, I think that you should be. I can understand it in some ways, because the issue is taken away from the person… No, I think that people should be given the chance. I've never been in the position where I've looked at, “Oh, I wish I was bloody dead”, you know. I mean, I wake up in the morning sometimes or in the middle of the night and I'm hurting so much. But I've still never came to the decision, I've never sort of looked at it and thought, “Oh, I can't have much more of this. I've got to pack it in.”

Jonathan Miller - Motor Neurone
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