11 Sep 2015

Assisted dying debate: MPs reject ‘right to die’ bill

Emotional arguments made on both sides as MPs vote on the “right to die” for the first time in twenty years.

MPs have rejected a bill on assisted dying following a lengthy debate on Friday.

The private members bill was brought by Labour MP Rob Marris, who described the current law as a “mess” and his bill was about offering people “choice and dignity”.

He argues the law should be changed to legally allow terminally ill people to end their life with medical help.

He says: “With appropriate, strong safeguards, terminally ill adults of sound mind should be legally allowed to choose to have assistance to end their own life.”

Adding, “I value life, and I do understand that some people believe very deeply that ending one’s own life is always wrong. Nevertheless, the depth and sincerity of their belief should not mean that they deny choice to those of us who do not share their beliefs.”

Two doctors and a High Court judge would have to be satisfied of the requesting patient’s eligibility.

The prerequisites before the right to die would be allowed under the bill are defined as being terminally ill with less than six months to live, mentally fit to make the decision and aware of alternatives.

Then the patient must administer the fatal medication themselves.

The private members bill comes following legislation brought by Lord Faulkner that stalled in the last parliament. Unusually, it is a vote of conscience – meaning party whips will not direct MPs in how they should vote.

The issue gained public support following locked-in sufferer Tony Nicklinson who lost several attempts to be allowed to die through the courts.

Campaign charity Dignity In Dying believes it is time the UK “puts an end to unnecessary suffering and gives dying adults the choice of an assisted death”. Patron of Dignity in Dying and outspoken supporter of assisted suicide Terry Pratchet died earlier this year from early-onset Alzheimer’s.

‘Biggest dilemmas of our time’

Faith groups have united to lead the argument against assisted dying, insisting that it would have serious impacts for the most vulnerable in society.

The Church of England believe a change in the law would lead to people either feeling pressured to, or putting pressure on themselves to, end their lives prematurely.

The Archbishop of Canterbury described the issue of assisted dying as one of the “biggest dilemmas of our time” but said legalising the act would give rise to a “slippery slope” which could lead to further difficulties.

His concern was recently echoed by UK faith leaders Dr Shuja Shafi, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, Ephraim Mirvis, chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth and Lord Singh of Wimbledon, director of the Network of Sikh Organisations UK in a joint open letter to MPs.

They are supported by prime minister David Cameron, who has made his own opinion on the ethically fraught issue clear.

A Downing Street spokesman said the Prime Minister is not in favour of an approach that would “take us closer to euthanasia”. However, as it is a vote of conscience Conservative MPs do not have to follow the prime ministers lead.

‘There is nothing sacred about suffering’

Labour MP Rob Marris who introduced the bill says: “”At present the law denies dying people the choice of a safe, legal assisted death, whilst turning a blind eye to home suicides, and to technically illegal actions by doctors, and to Dignitas deaths.”

An alliance of bishops, priests and rabbis, including former archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, have broken ranks from other religious leaders to voice an opposing view.

Archbishop Welby predecessor Lord Carey believes allowing doctors to help terminally ill people to die is a “profoundly Christian and moral thing” to do.

He argues that proper legal safeguards could be devised to ensure vulnerable people are not pressurised into ending their lives.

Dr Jonathan Romain, Rabbi of Maidenhead Synagogue and chairman of the group Inter-Faith leaders for Dignity in Dying, was among those who signed an open letter published in the Daily Telegraph which urged: “There is nothing sacred about suffering, nothing holy about agony, and individuals should not be obliged to endure it.”

Former director of public prosecutions Keir Starmer said the law needs to be changed to “deal with the problem of people wanting to end their lives in this country, medically assisted, rather than traipse off to Switzerland”.

It was revealed last year that Brits make up 1 in 5 of those who travel to Zurich for assisted suicide.