**Dame Esther Rantzen Expresses ‘Profound Relief’ as MPs Support Assisted Dying Legislation**
Dame Esther Rantzen, the revered broadcaster and campaigner, has shared her sense of “enormous relief” after Members of Parliament voted in favour of a landmark Bill permitting assisted dying for terminally ill adults. Her words come as the debate over end-of-life choices continues to capture public attention, striking a deeply personal note in light of her ongoing struggle with cancer.
The 85-year-old television icon made her feelings known during an appearance on ITV1’s *Loose Women*, a programme well-regarded for its candid conversations on current affairs. Reflecting on her own experience since receiving a terminal diagnosis, Dame Esther admitted she never expected to mark her 85th birthday. “Who knew I’d be 85, heavens,” she mused with characteristic wit, highlighting the unpredictability of life with a serious illness.
Dame Esther has emerged as one of the UK’s most vocal advocates for changing the law surrounding assisted dying. On the programme, she emphasised that the issue at hand is less about “shortening life” and more about “shortening death.” She argued that individuals should have the right to choose a dignified end, underlining the importance of autonomy for those faced with debilitating terminal conditions.
Despite her optimistic outlook, Dame Esther revealed that she has not yet been given a specific estimate regarding the progression of her illness. She is set to undergo additional chemotherapy, a reminder of the ongoing challenges facing those at the end of life. During her interview, she also discussed the fatigue associated with cancer, noting how it can prevent patients from participating in the activities they enjoy. With a touch of humour, she bemoaned missing out on joining the *Loose Women* panel in person: “I like being loose!” she quipped.
Beyond her personal narrative, Dame Esther addressed concerns about safeguarding and the complexities involved in implementing assisted dying laws responsibly. She pointed out that under proposed legislation, decisions would rest firmly with the patient, an aspect she observed not everyone finds comfortable. “Some of my closest relatives and best friends are psychiatrists,” she remarked, “but I’m not sure psychiatrists are always happy to give control back to the patient, but that’s what we’re asking for.”
Last week saw Dame Esther reaching out directly to members of the House of Lords, urging them not to obstruct the progress of the Terminally Ill Adults (End Of Life) Bill, which successfully passed the House of Commons by a margin of 23 votes. Despite this significant breakthrough, the Bill’s future remains uncertain as it enters the unelected upper chamber, where critics have vowed to propose further safeguards and restrictions.
During a recent interview on BBC Radio 4’s *Today* programme, Dame Esther acknowledged the determination of opponents within the Lords to halt or heavily amend the Bill. She stressed, however, that the responsibility for making law lies with the elected House of Commons, which has already expressed its will on the matter. “People who are adamantly opposed to this Bill… will try and stop it going through the Lords, but the Lords themselves—their duty is to make sure that law is actually created by the elected chamber,” she stated.
Dame Esther has faced the harsh reality that the legislative process may outpace the time she has left. In preparation, she has joined Switzerland’s Dignitas clinic, a facility that specialises in assisted dying, a step many British citizens have felt compelled to take given the current legal restrictions in the UK. “I would rather end my days on home soil with family close by, but the law may leave me no option,” she has said previously.
The ongoing debate over assisted dying continues to spark passionate responses from all sides, with many calling for increased compassion and choice at the end of life. As the House of Lords prepares to scrutinise the proposed Bill, campaigners warn of the need for careful safeguards, while others, like Dame Esther, champion the fundamental right of individuals to have control over their final days.
Whichever side prevails, the conversation about assisted dying in the UK has reached a crucial juncture—and the voices of those directly affected, like Dame Esther Rantzen, are proving impossible to ignore.