Decisive defeat for Assisted Dying Bill

Houses of Parliament

The Assisted Dying Bill (No2) was defeated at Second Reading in the House of Commons by 330 to 118 today, 11 September.

Lord Alton writes that the decisive vote "to reject assisted suicide will be greeted by disabled people, hospices, and the doctors and nurses who have vigorously opposed a change to the law with relief.

Care and kill can never be used as synonyms.

"The spectre of laws leading to full scale euthanasia has been averted. But what Parliament and the Government must now do is to ensure end of life care that upholds the dignity and value of every patient and the protection of the most vulnerable. We need laws and policies to promote assisted living not assisted suicide."

In a statement, Archbishop Peter Smith said: "I welcome Parliament's recognition of the grave risks that this bill posed to the lives of our society's most vulnerable people. There is much excellent practice in palliative care which we need to celebrate and promote, and I hope now the debate on assisted suicide is behind us, that this will become a focus for political action. I am encouraged by the participation of so many Catholics throughout England and Wales in this important discussion and hope that everyone involved will continue to support calls for better quality care as life nears its end."