There was a debate about assisted dying in Edinburgh, so I went. It’s the first time I have done a random short trip to the university, and it was rather fun. I’m also feeling rather pleased with how brave I was (because I am not a happy single traveller).

I arrived in Edinburgh mid-afternoon. I had booked a Premier Inn near to where the debate was, so I set Google maps to ‘wheelchair access’ and pulled my suitcase through the city. (Google still took me up some incredibly steep inclines, so I’m glad I wasn’t really pushing a wheelchair!) The city is lovely in November in a new way. They are setting up the stalls for Christmas markets, and several places already had lights on, and it was very pretty and exciting.

I checked into the hotel, left my bags, and went to where the debate was going to be held—a sort of dry-run so I knew where to go and how long it would take to walk there. I suspect no other students did this, but they are probably better at finding things than me, and less embarrassed if they arrive late. People who get anxious like to be prepared. I’m glad I did, as it was in one of the lecture theatres of the medical school, and I needed to ask directions when I was in the building. The seats all faced the doorway, so arriving late would be awful!

Once my plan was sorted, I looked for somewhere to eat. The debate was at 6.30, so I ate early and braved the hotel restaurant. I sat in a completely empty restaurant, drinking red wine and eating dinner, feeling like ‘a real grown-up.’ You would be surprised how often grown-up things, like attending a conference in a city on my own, seem difficult. But they’re not really. It has taken me many decades to realise this.

The debate was excellent. I will write a separate blog about what was said, but they had speakers on both sides of the debate who made clear logical arguments. The lecture theatre was mainly full of medical students (who looked like children to me) and they were very invested in the issue. If the law changes they will be involved with administering it in a couple of years time. Which must affect them, I would think. (More on that another time!) In my nerves I had left my notebook and pen sitting on my desk, so had to make notes on my phone, which was less good. I also took a photo for my mother, who had made a comment about a flower arrangement at the front, so I wanted to show her that a university lecture theatre and a church conference hall are very different styles. (There is also less leg room in a lecture theatre, so I was very uncomfortable.)

After the debate there was a drinks reception. I was keen to speak to some of the panel, so I grabbed an apple juice and looked around. I found one of the speakers, but I couldn’t remember his name (of course) and as I have a problem with recognising faces, I asked him if he was ‘the philosophy chap?’ Which he coped with very well, and told me his name. Turns out he’s the Head of Philosophy at the university, so I got that bit right if not his name. We had an interesting chat as we negotiated our way passed the boy opening bottles of Prosecco by popping the corks up into the ceiling. I asked him (the head of philosophy, not the boy trying to injure us with corks) whether assisted dying should be called suicide (which one of the panel had). Given the choice, the people would choose to recover, not die, so surely they weren’t suicidal? He pointed out that philosophically, it’s the same thing, as people suffering from depressive illness would probably choose to be cured rather than die too. (Which was a good point.) Though he did allow that assisted dying was more about choosing how to die than whether to die.

As I said, it was an interesting evening, and I have lots to think about. (Especially, I question whether assisted dying should be decided by either the medics or the politicians. It’s about death, and this is a matter for theologians and philosophers I feel. When someone is about to die, I think a chaplain or counsellor would be better qualified to help than a doctor. But contemporary society doesn’t particularly value theologians or philosophers. Perhaps it should.)

It was late when I left, so I phoned Husband as I walked through the city back to my hotel (because then he would know exactly when I was murdered). Got back safely, slept badly because I couldn’t work the room thermostat. 

Breakfast in a pretty Cafe Nero that had fairy lights and Christmas wreaths. Felt very pleased I had come as I walked back to the station, listening to the seagulls and looking at the lovely old city that is Edinburgh.

Thank you for reading, I hope you have a great week.
Take care.
Love, Anne x

anneethompson.com
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