I am so distressed listening to yesterday’s assisted dying bill debate on face to face v remote assessments. There are *no clinical reasons* why a patient could not be assessed in person. If they are too frail to travel to the doctor, the doctor must travel to them. This does not restrict the patients autonomy. It just makes the process safer. GPs routinely see people at home. Palliative care doctors routinely see people at home. Other doctors routinely see people at home. I cannot believe that we are considering remote / zoom assessments for assisted death Genuinely can’t believe this is where we’ve got to.

Updated King’s College research, found 963 of 2397 deaths of adults with a learning disability - which had a known cause were classed as avoidable 40% is almost twice as high as general population This is why disabled people are worried about AS bill 1/2 bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1dk…

Nine-year-old Oleksandra Paskal, who lost her leg because of the war, won bronze at a gymnastics tournament, TSN reports. She is such a fighter ❤️‍🩹

We are shocked by a paper published in the JME suggesting that the violence of FGM can be culturally explained away and permitted. FGM causes nothing but pain and harm to women and girls. There are no benefits at all. It prevents sexual pleasure and makes childbirth more dangerous than it already is. Ask the maternity staff and clinicians who pick up the pieces. All children have the right to go through puberty and arrive at the other side whole human beings. It is pure hatred of the female sex and has no place in a world that too often fails to treat girls and women as human beings. jme.bmj.com/content/early/20…

A Russian soldier smashed 75 y.o. Ludmyla’s face with a rifle, slashed her stomach, and raped her. Diplomats discuss “blanket amnesty” in the new peace plan. To them it's a compromise. To Ukraine, it means pardoning the man who sliced open a grandmother — The Times. 1/

The world knows this unforgettable melody and sings it in numerous languages. “Shchedryk” (Carol of the Bells), inspired by a Ukrainian folk carol, became a global symbol of Christmas. It was composed by Ukrainian Mykola Leontovych, born on this day in 1877. Leontovych was a teacher, composer, and choir conductor who dedicated his life to recording and revitalising Ukrainian folk songs.  His music carries a special kind of magic: no matter the language, the melody resonates with joy, hope, and the spirit of celebration.  Leontovych was tragically killed in 1921 by Soviet secret police for defending Ukrainian culture. But his legacy lives on, and "Shchedryk" continues to unite people around the world.

Today at the European Parliament, people couldn’t hold back tears as 11-year-old Roman Oleksiv described surviving russia’s July 14, 2022 strike on Vinnytsia. russia destroys children. Ukrainian kids are forced to inspire an indifferent world instead of simply living.

“7% of those who attempt suicide die by suicide. 7%. Which means that there are 93%…that want to end their life but eventually get over that. The success rate of MAiD is 100%. By design this is a policy that will give up on people.”

While "peace" negotiations continue, remember that Russia could simply stop the war at any time.

Every time I see this headline, I think "what about a nice photo frame or those smelly room diffuser stick things like most other mums get from their kids?"

Sometimes it feels that 1 very simple fact is forgotten in the assisted suicide debate One mistake = the loss of life of someone who shouldn't have died Such a mistake is not less tragic or less culpable because someone is dying, ill, old or disabled Surely that makes it more so?

"It is ethically troubling that substances used for veterinary euthanasia are subject to more rigorous evaluation and licensing than those proposed for human use in [assisted suicide]."

I would prefer an amendment that said anyone with a cancer diagnosis was to be assigned a Personal Navigator to ensure they started treatment within a fortnight.

I’m reminded of something @HackneyAbbott said at third reading: “What could be more unjust than to lose your life due to poorly drafted legislation?”

The Equality impact assessment for assisted dying is 21 pages and was published late. The vaping bill one is about 273

And another one to add to positive Wednesday…

David Hockney

Scrapping qualifications for over-16s could leave thousands unemployed independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho…

Amazing day listening to youth workers and parents about the challenges young people in Lambeth are facing. Young people for whom the combo of youthworker parent support has been life changing against a background of low confidence and limited opportunity. #youthwork

RT @HackneyAbbott: One thing I have learnt from some years in politics, victory or defeat are rarely final. So you keep on fighting. https:…