‘We’re still traumatised’ – assisted dying campaigner on mother’s final hours

A woman who cared for her dying mother in her final weeks says her family has been left “traumatised” by the lack of a law on assisted dying.

Victoria Burns spoke in favour of Orkney MSP Liam McArthur’s Bill on assisted dying as she and other campaigners gathered outside the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday morning.

The campaign group Dignity in Dying Scotland placed a number of olive trees outside the building, adorned with the handwritten “dying wishes” of those who support a change in the law.

Ms Burns spoke about how she and her sisters cared for their mother Heather Black at home during the coronavirus lockdown as her health deteriorated.

Ms Burns told the PA news agency she would “100%” have chosen a legal route to end her own life, saying: “She asked us to help her die in the last week.

“We actually thought about putting a pillow over her face – that’s just horrific.”

Heather was involved in a number of campaigns to help communities in the north of Edinburgh throughout her life.

She died aged 69, with Victoria saying her mother loved travelling and had many friends.

Ms Burns, from Edinburgh, and her sisters tried to care for their mother during her final weeks but none had any medical experience, while the lockdown meant they could not rely on family and friends.

She said the experience became “scary” towards the end.

Victoria said her mother had a “brown foam” continuously coming from her mouth in the final 12 hours of her life, with she and her sisters were forced to find makeshift towels around the house to contain it.

She said: “Four years on we’re still traumatised. I don’t actually think we’ve dealt with it. It feels like we haven’t actually grieved for her.

“It was so unnecessary. Had assisted dying in place then we would have been able to spend those last days with her listening to music, saying our goodbyes.”

Victoria added: “I think people are coming round to the idea that we can’t keep letting our loved ones die this way.

“It’s so cruel and inhumane and it’s unnecessary.”