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Fife woman makes her case for assisted suicide

Sandra Ewing, who has lost both her legs and battled MRSA, has ordered doctors to stop her life-saving kidney dialysis treatment.

12 June 2009 18:17 GMT

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A seriously ill Fife woman is making arrangements for her own death.

Sandra Ewing, who has lost both her legs and battled MRSA, has ordered doctors to stop her life-saving kidney dialysis treatment.

The mother of two from Glenrothes lost her legs two years ago after developing septicaemia. She later contracted MRSA while undergoing treatment and her kidneys also failed.

Fife woman makes her case for assisted suicide

Ms Ewing has to undergo dialysis three times a week, but at the end of the month she will stop having the life-saving treatment.

She is planning a farewell party with family and friends before allowing herself to die.

She told STV news: "It's been explained that I'll probably slip into a massive coma, I'll be given pain relief during this and then it'll come to the stage where I won't know anything and then my life will just slip away."

The 48-year-old said her life is simply no longer worth living.

"People look at me, and some people think I'm in a wheelchair but they don't see what's going on inside, how it's affecting me mentally as well.

"I've suffered quite bad depression. I've thought about it over the months, about seven months now. I've seen psychiatrists, I've spoken to nurse friends, I took everything into consideration and that is my final decision.

"There is no going back no matter what."

She said she plans to see her grandchildren for the final time next week, followed in a few days by a farewell party with friends.

"I know I'm leaving a son and a daughter, but…"

She starts to cry.

Ms Ewing says she's considered suicide in the past and thinks people should be given the option of taking their own lives.

Campaigners believe her plight gives weight to the case in support of assisted suicide.

Independent MSP Margo MacDonald is a proponent of assisted suicide in certain cases. She introduced legislation in Holyrood to give people the right to take their own life under the guidance of a GP.

Ms MacDonald said of Ms Ewing's case: "She is legally able to instruct that there should be no more treatment given to her and I find that very much the same as morally as anyone in the same position as she might be in who approaches their doctor and asks some help to bring their life to an end."

For Ms Ewing, though, it's simply a case of ending her life in the way she sees fit.

"I just want to die with dignity," she said.

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    1. 12 Jun 2009 19:46dod said

    I think Sandra is a very brave woman coming to the decision of dying with dignity, I would do the same under those circumstances, I wholeheartidly agree with assisted suicide when there is no hope for a cure or there is no quality of life left.

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    2. 12 Jun 2009 22:44LaurenofScotland said

    It is your decision, however, I have seen many people suffering after a war loosing their legs or arms, and believe it or not.... they wanted to live. I thought they would never like to hear rock and certainly not dance. I was wrong. They danced and sang... Life is a gift

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    3. 13 Jun 2009 00:11Scotgal said

    I agree life is a gift and a precious one at that. I am sorry when people have to go through pain and suffering but that is life and we must deal with it as it comes. I would think that a mother would never wish to cause her children pain. I don't really feel that we should make our private circumstances and plans so public. I do not want to watch this type of report on the news.

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    4. 13 Jun 2009 15:29rusty said

    I saw the report on SANDRA wanting to stop her dialysis at the end of the month.I would like to know if she is currently on the transplant list?IF so then i would strongly advise her to battle on through and the transplant will come,and you will view life differently.I have lost my 2 legs,through dialysis last year.I was on dialysis for 6years 4months,and finally got a transplant on friday 15/5/09 in EDINBURGH.I am looking forward to getting new sports legs made so i can r

    un the transplant games in 2010.I have been through really tough times between my dialysis and my 2 leg amputations last year because of gangerene but i believe in facing up to problems head on and treating it as another challenge in life.MY advice to SANDRA is NEVER give in.LIFE IS MADE FOR LIVING.NEVER OPT OUT. RON MCINTOSH

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