Care Not Killing disappointed at second reading vote

Source: Care Not Killing

Care Not Killing disappointed at second reading vote, but welcomes the growing number of MPs expressing concern about legalising assisted suicide

Following today's extremely close vote in Parliament, which narrowly saw MPs vote to allow the assisted suicide bill to progress, Dr Gordon Macdonald, Chief Executive of Care Not Killing commented: "We are naturally disappointed at the vote, but have been hugely encouraged that the more MPs hear about assisted suicide and euthanasia the more they turn against changing the law and rightly want the Government to focus on fixing the UK's broken palliative care system.

"Indeed, as we heard from numerous MPs today fixing the palliative and social care systems should be the priority, rather than pressing ahead with a dangerous and ideological that will make many elderly, terminally ill and disabled people feel like a burden and end their lives prematurely, exactly as we see in the US state of Oregon, the model for this draft Bill. Other MPs expressed concern that the legislation was rushed and badly drafted, highlighting that in Oregon a law introduced for terminally ill adults has expanded to include people with diabetes, arthritis and eating disorders such as anorexia. Others highlighted the problems with the so-called safeguards, which evidence from around the world shows over time are eroded and swept away, just as we see in Canada, which introduced a tightly defined law in 2016. By 2019, the law had been expanded from terminally ill adult to anyone suffering, and this year legislators approved euthanasia for those with mental health problems. While some warned that those from ethnic minorities, poorer back grounds or with a disability were much more likely to have their lives ended if this law was passed.

Dr Macdonald concluded: "Our current laws protect vulnerable people and do not need changing, instead we need to focus our attention on how to ensure we provide the very best palliative care to those who need it."

If your MP voted 'no' today, perhaps send them a brief email to thank them (find their email address here).

If you live in Scotland, email your MSP - who will have noted today's vote - to let them know of your opposition to Liam McArthur's assisted suicide bill, which is currently being considered by the Health Committee prior to Stage One debate.

Encourage any healthcare professionals you know who are alarmed by the Leadbeater and McArthur Bills to sign the Our Duty of Care Declaration. See: https://ourdutyofcare.org.uk/declaration/

For more information see Care Not Killing: www.carenotkilling.org.uk/

If you would like to talk with someone about issues raised in this article, the Samaritans are available 24 hours a day. Call free on 116 123 or visit: www.samaritans.org