Woman's campaign for assisted death law change

Nichola Harris (right) said her mother was "able to choose when to end her suffering"

A woman whose mother chose to end her life in Canada is calling for the UK law around assisted death to be changed.

Nichola Harris' mother Norma Bennett, who had terminal cancer, had a medically assisted death - which is legal in certain circumstances in Canada.

"She was able to do this how she wanted, when she wanted, surrounded by her friends and loved ones," said Ms Harris, who lives in Winchelsea, East Sussex.

Assisted suicide and euthanasia are illegal in the UK.

In countries where assisted death is legal, critics argue vulnerable people can be pressured into ending their lives prematurely and safeguards can be eroded.

Ms Harris told BBC Radio Sussex that medics interviewed her and her mother separately as well as together to ensure Ms Bennett was not being pressured.

"There are very strict rules around the process," she said.

Ms Harris said her mother spoke to her about how she wanted to die when she was a child

Alistair Thompson from the campaign group Care Not Killing said instead of legalising assisted death, care for the dying should be improved.

"We need to make sure that palliative care is accessible to every single person in this country who needs it and that's really the debate we should be having, " he said.

Ms Harris said she wanted people in the UK to have the option of an assisted death.

Her mother, who died at the age of 71, was "able to choose when to end her suffering when it became impossible for her to move around or do all the things she loved", she said.

She died surrounded by "around 30 of her friends and loved ones singing and holding her hands".

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