'I'll never forget look on my husband's face when he died - we wouldn't treat animals like this'

A woman who suffers from PTSD as a result of her husband's painful death has said MPs have a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to change the law on assisted dying.

Lucy Davenport, whose partner Tom died after an aggressive cancer spread to his bowel, said she wouldn't "wish what I've gone through on my worst enemy". She told an event in Parliament on Wednesday: "This led to my husband being on three syringe drivers and continually being sick and it was fecal vomit.

"After five hours of that he eventually inhaled it, choked and died. I have PTSD because I will never forget the look on his face. Even post-death he continued to vomit. I now live with a 10-year-old who understands the story of his father's death

"Tom had asked repeatedly 'can you just give me something so I can go to sleep' and a doctor replied: 'Not unless you grow another two legs and a tail'." Ms Davenport added: "That's the truth of the matter - we wouldn't treat animals like this yet my husband died awfully."

She shared her experience as Kim Leadbeater - the MP spearheading the legislation - unveiled "important changes" to the Bill to make it more "robust". Last year MPs backed the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at its first stage by 330 to 275.

But after 90 hours of debate with over 50 experts giving evidence over two months, Ms Leadbeater told a press conference the Bill had been beefed up. Among the changes the implementation period has been doubled to a maximum of four years for an assisted dying service to be in place if the Bill passes.

Pressed on whether the law could be "politicised" if the introduction clashes with the next - expected in 2029 - Ms Leadbeater said: "I would like to stick to two years. But what I've always said is, it's more important to get this right rather than to do it quickly. The four years is very much a back-stop."

She added: "As much as we've moved the commencement period to give the flexibility to get this right, I would anticipate... it's done as safely as it is to do so." Eligibility remains with only terminally ill adults in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live. In a letter to MPs, Ms Leadbeater said her Bill has emerged from committee "even stronger, safer and more effective".

Sir Max Hill, a former director of public prosecutions, also told the event the Bill is a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to bring about a change in the law. The former top prosecutor warned MPs against "kicking this can down the road" ahead of the next major vote on the Bill.

But James Frith, Labour MP for Bury North said: “A growing number of Labour MPs are deeply concerned that the Bill's progress is carrying on regardless. The Bill as it stands is a mess, with significant issues of concern where there had been promises of scrutiny and improvement." MPs are expected to vote on further amendments to the Bill at report stage on April 25. If time allows, MPs could also vote on whether to approve the legislation at third reading - its final stage in the Commons.

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