Reaction to the sad news that Miriam Karlin OBE, actress and Dignity in Dying Patron, has died

Miriam Karlin has died in a London hospital of cancer aged 85. Miriam had roles in A Clockwork Orange, The Entertainer and Room at the Top as well as staring in the sitcom The Rag Trade.

Commenting, Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying said:

“Everyone at Dignity in Dying is saddened by the news of Miriam’s death. A member for over thirty years, she was a passionate supporter of our campaign for greater patient choice at the end of life.”

In a statement of support Miriam set out her views on Dignity in Dying’s campaign.

“Having been a member of Dignity in Dying for thirty years I fully support the campaign to ensure that all people have, what they consider to be, a good death. Advance decisions are an important way of making sure our choices at the end of our lives are carried out. The campaign to change the law to allow assisted dying for terminally ill adults is also necessary, as sadly for some people palliative care is not enough, and for those few the option of an assisted death at the end of their lives would provide the choice and control we all deserve.”

Ends.

Notes to editor:

About Dignity in Dying:

• Dignity in Dying campaigns for greater choice, control and access to services at the end of life. It advocates providing terminally ill adults with the option of an assisted death, within strict legal safeguards, and for universal access to high quality end-of-life care.
• Dignity in Dying has over 25,000 supporters and receives its funding entirely from donations from the public.
• The British Social Attitudes Survey 2010 found that 92% of non-religious and 71% of religious people support assisted dying. This relates to overall support of 82%.