Vicky Phelan and the right of terminally ill people to end their suffering

Vicky Phelan’s last wish to the Irish State will be met by predictable resistance, by many of our politicians and a sizeable section of the public more broadly. Securing justice is always an uphill battle, writes Dr Vittorio Bufacchi

Vicky Phelan was met with a standing ovation when she walked on to the Late Late Show on Friday night. However, it's likely that her last wish to the Irish State will be met by predictable resistance.

Vicky Phelan, the terminally ill cervical cancer campaigner, has urged politicians to pass legislation to give people like her the option to be medically assisted to die. She justifies this request by appealing to the right of a terminally ill person to end their suffering.

Vicky Phelan’s last wish to the Irish State will be met by predictable resistance, by many of our politicians and a sizable section of the public more broadly. Securing justice is always an uphill battle, and no one knows this more than Vicky Phelan.