YVONNE Pryor, a married mother-of-four from Edinburgh, was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer in October 2015. Although the initial prognosis was poor, the 54-year-old has responded well to chemotherapy and her condition is currently "stable".
The statistics for long-term survival are poor, however, and – if it comes to it – Pryor wants the right to control how and when she dies so that she can choose to be at home with her family, and limit her own suffering.
"I'm a carer and I've worked all of my life looking after people," said Pryor, who also looks after a man with learning disabilities who has lived with her family in Edinburgh for more than 25 years.
"I've worked in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, at Craig House [then a mental hospital] and care homes so [assisted suicide] has been something I've thought about for a long time and I do feel quite strongly that you should have a choice.
"I feel that progressing this particular campaign for people who are terminally ill is the way to go at the moment. It may be that we can open it out and look at it again after, but I think to get this legislation passed it's good that this campaign and this Bill are quite narrow and it does only include people with terminal illnesses. I think it's the way to get a foot in the door.
"There's no guarantee that you will not be in pain and discomfort at the end. I know there are lots of places where there is very good palliative care, but that doesn't happen for everyone. I know that from experience."
Prior, whose youngest children are aged 12 and 15, says her family support her wishes and that legalising assisted suicide would, ironically, actually give her more time with loved ones.
"Where I'm coming from is that if I decide that I want to end my life, I will have to make that decision earlier when I am able to do it myself so that none of my family could possibly be prosecuted. I'd have to take that decision earlier because I can't have anyone help me. But if someone could assist me I can stick around a bit longer.
"We are a happy loving group and I very much want to have the choice to end my life when the quality of my life has gone.
"When it is the end, I want to be at home with my family around me, not in a hospice or hospital. I want how and when I die to be my choice."
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