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Fenland family want law change to allow people to die with dignity with a final injection




A Fenland family has launched a petition calling for the Government to change how the end of life care system works and allow people to choose to die with dignity.

The move by Tracy Ireland, her brothers Martin and Chrissy, Mum Janet, and aunt, Susan McNeely, comes after they watched their father and brother die an "agonising death".

Michael Barber died aged 68 at home in Mill Close, Wisbech in August, after a number of weeks of being seriously ill as the result of his health conditions, which included COPD, emphysema and heart failure.

Michael Barber died an agonising death, now his family is calling on the Government to change end of life care. (42539492)
Michael Barber died an agonising death, now his family is calling on the Government to change end of life care. (42539492)

Tracy, a mum of two sons, took time off work and moved out of the family home in Leverington leaving her husband, Mark to look after their teenage sons, so she could move in with her dad to help care for him.

Her Mum Janet Barber, Michael's ex-wife also moved in with him to help and support Tracy.

Tracy said: "He went into hospital because he was struggling to breath, and even though they knew he didn't have coronavirus, they put him on a covid ward at Peterborough hospital, which was terrifying for him. We weren't able to see him and all he wanted to do was come home.

"But it was taking them so long to sort out a care package for him, in the end he discharged himself and I brought him home. We had to wait four or five days for the end of life care package and I had to go to Peterborough to pick it up and organise the nurses to come out to him.

"I can't fault the nurses who looked after him they were brilliant. But it was absolutely horrendous. Dad couldn't lie down or sleep because he just couldn't breathe. He just kept wandering around the house as that was all he could do.

"He would sit down but he had to stay upright, he was hallucinating because of the lack of sleep. He could hardly hold himself up, it was awful to watch. We knew the end was coming and there was nothing anyone could do.

"He couldn't eat, he was struggling with panic attacks and he wanted nothing more than to see the end. He was of sound mind throughout it all. When the time comes and you call in the end of life team, their hands are tied and they can't do anything but give medication every four hours.

"But as the medication wore off Dad would come round screaming or very woozy. It was absolutely horrific for us and for him.

"We believe that when it is clear the end is near and the patient is suffering they should have the choice of having an injection to end their life. In all honesty you would not keep a dog the way my Dad was allowed to suffer.

"The injection could be done by a registered nurse or doctor, and if the patient is not of sound mind then the doctor and family could make the decision for them. There could be a process to ensure everything is being done properly.

"It would save the patient the agony of his or her progressing illness and also the heartache for all families as they would not have to watch their loved one suffer any more."

Michael's sister Susan, who lives in Texas in America, kept in contact with her brother with numerous daily phone calls throughout his ordeal.

She said: "It was disgusting how he was left to suffer. He couldn't eat, he couldn't wash himself, he couldn't do anything other than just keep walking round and round being held up a lot of the time by Tracy.

"I know some people will say it is wrong to give someone a final injection, but it's not wrong, what's wrong is to leave someone to suffer the way Michael did, that's why I'm fully supporting Tracy and her petition.

"Things need to change and people who are dying should be allowed to make the decision on when they want to die. It would give them dignity and allow them to go peacefully."

To sign Susan's petition visit: https://www.change.org/p/boris-johnson-end-of-life-care-to-introduce-a-single-injection-to-end-life



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