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Mike Tindall on father's final months with Parkinson's; criticises MPs who opposed assisted dying

Former England rugby player Mike Tindall spoke on his podcast about his father Phil's death at 80 after a long fight with Parkinson's. He said he was relieved and criticised MPs who voted against the assisted dying bill.

2 outlets · 1L · 0C · 1R First reported Account updated
Image: Daily Mail
Image: Daily Mirror

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The story, neutrally told

Mike Tindall, the 47-year-old former England rugby player, spoke on his podcast The Good, The Bad & The Rugby about the death of his father Phil, aged 80, from Parkinson's disease. The Daily Mail describes a 25-year illness and the Daily Mirror a two-decade one. Tindall said the last three months were "horrible" to see and that his father's death was a relief.

He said Parkinson's curved his father's spine and caused bowel problems, including a blockage eight years ago that nearly killed him on the operating table, and another in June after Phil had signed a non-resuscitation order. Tindall said the family was phoned three times in case it was Phil's last day, yet each time he was sitting up in a chair. Tindall said: "Anyone who voted against the euthanasia thing hasn't gone through seeing your dad, who you admire so much, go through what he had to go through. It's just not fair."

MPs rejected the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at second reading earlier this month by 286 votes to 270. The bill would have let adults in England and Wales expected to live under six months apply for an assisted death; the Mirror adds that this needed approval from two doctors and an expert panel. Tindall is married to Zara Tindall and has been a patron of Cure Parkinson's since 2018, according to the Mirror.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left1 outlet

Framing
Human-interest royal-family story centred on Tindall's grief and charity work, with the assisted dying remark included as one quote.
Emphasis
Tindall's Cure Parkinson's patronage, his father's rugby career at Otley, family background and the bill's details.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not say explicitly that Tindall now backs assisted dying, and omits the 'godsend' remark, the last conversation with his father and the friend's father planning an assisted death.
Charged language
“horrible”
For example
“Mike Tindall shares dad's 'horrible' final days after two-decade battle with Parkinson's disease” — Daily Mirror
“who is patron of Cure Parkinson's, has long campaigned to raise funds” — Daily Mirror

Centre0 outlets

No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Right1 outlet

Framing
Emotional first-person account led by Tindall's relief and his assisted dying stance, linked to the failed Commons vote.
Emphasis
The 'free from his body' quote, the 'godsend' description, his last conversation with his father, and his attack on MPs who voted against the bill.
Leaves out or plays down
Leaves out Tindall's Cure Parkinson's patronage and his father's rugby background.
Charged language
“harrowing”“godsend”“hit out at MPs”
For example
“said the experience had left him in favour of assisted dying” — Daily Mail
“He hit out at MPs who voted against the bill earlier this month” — Daily Mail