Limerick man adds voice in support of right-to-die choice
TRAUMA is not in the administration of assisted dying but rather in the loneliness, isolation and lack of support a Limerick man has said.
Garret Ahern, from Limerick, spoke about the need for assisted dying legislation in Ireland during an Oireachtas committee meeting on the ethics of end-of-life care.
In April, Mr Ahern’s wife availed of assisted dying in Belgium following a lengthy battle with cancer.
The discussion was part of the Joint Committee on Assisted Dying chaired by Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae, featuring the stories and opinions of members of the public including Elma Walsh, mother of Donal Walsh who came into prominence in 2013, during his cancer battle.
Earlier this year Mr Ahern travelled with his wife, Vicky Janssens, a former lecturer at UCC, to her native Belgium where she died by assisted dying in her friend’s home.
“Had a procedure such as this been available in Ireland, albeit with the most strict guidelines and safeguards the state could provide, we, her loved ones, would have been saved from this emotionally and psychologically harrowing ordeal,” Mr Ahern said.
According to Mr Ahern, Ms Janssens was a metastatic breast cancer patient for over ten years. Cancer had spread to her lungs, liver, bones and her stomach.
“[Vicky’s] terminal diagnosis was delivered in December 2022 and we began, despite Vicky's reservations, on a programme of chemotherapy, along with support in the form of pain management from the palliative care team,” Mr Ahern said.
Unfortunately, none of the interventions worked to improve Ms Janssens’ condition according to Mr Ahern.
“...she told me how extreme her pain was and that she felt she could no longer manage it. She also felt she was not being supported by her medical team in this respect,” he said.
“She asked me what would happen if she consumed all of the morphine we had in the house. I can only say I advised her in the strongest possible way that this would be a bad idea.”
Mr Ahern previously worked with a suicide prevention group in Limerick and said he has seen the after-effects of suicide and that it rarely ends well and the outcome may not be what she intended.
“I would also like to add that I believe quality of life can be found in the most difficult circumstances and I am by no means suggesting that the vulnerable, elderly or people with disabilities should in any way be coerced into a choice such as this,” Mr Ahern said.
Mr Ahern believes that if assisted dying was made available in Ireland there should be a “rigid examination of the medical facts and there should be a psychological assessment carried out on a patient wishing to avail of assisted dying or expressing their wishes in that regard.”