Lewes assisted dying campaigner: "Enormous progress" in how we view death as bill returns to parliament
A Lewes woman who's led a decade-long campaign for assisted dying says it could change the future of how we view the end of life
Last updated 16th May 2025
A Lewes woman spearheading a campaign for assisted dying says it's reappearance in parliament shows enormous progress in how we view death.
It's as the bill to let terminally ill people end their lives returns to parliament in what marks the furthest its ever gotten in potentially becoming law.
It'll be the first time MPs debate the bill after a historic "yes" vote back in November, as it reaches "report stage".
After that, it'll reach a "Third Reading" - which determines whether the bill progresses to the House of Lords.
Fear of poor end of life "huge"
Nikkan has spent the past decade campaigning for assisted dying brought into law, collecting the stories of people across Brighton and Lewes affected by it.
She told Greatest Hits Radio that it's important to be able to discuss the end of life:
"The fear of it not being a good end is huge for a lot of people, and it really impacts the whole experience.
"It's about looking forwards, and feeling that people can have more control, more say and less suffering at the end of life.
"We would know what's involved - we would have more choice, more understanding and more process to follow.
"The Victorians were great at talking about death, but we don't seem to have that in our society anymore."
She added that there's been "enormous progress" in being open "with friends and family, and in society" about end of life while she's been campaigning.
"It's something we all face, whether we like it or not."
People personally affected by assisting dying are also gathering outside parliament, to share their "dying wishes" - including a terminally ill mum from Brighton.