Survey: Assisted Dying
Assisted dying is when a terminally ill adult of sound mind can legally seek assistance to end their life via life-ending medication, following the approval of two doctors. This is currently illegal across UK.
The second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will take place on 29th November in the House of Commons. This will be the first opportunity in almost ten years for parliament to thoroughly scrutinise this hugely important issue before coming to a final decision next year. It will also be my opportunity to vote on the bill and I want to consider the views of my constituents when making this important decision.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey below.
Background
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will propose the legalisation of assisted dying only for terminally ill people with a short time left to live. Safeguards and protections will be at the heart of the legislation, with medical and judicial oversight.
Two doctors will have to verify the individual requesting assistance is eligible and is doing so of their free will and individuals would be given repeated opportunities to confirm their choice and, if they wish, to change their mind at any point. The bill will uphold the belief that whatever choice people make, they should have access to the best possible end of life care.
Advocates of the bill believe the current legal situation is not fit for purpose. Over 600 terminally ill people take their own lives in this country every year: these deaths are unmonitored, out of sight, and with no protections against abuse or coercion. Around 30 people travel to Switzerland and other countries to end their own lives, a choice available only to those with the funds, means and connections to get there, and they can only travel when they are well enough, meaning they often do so prematurely, missing out on precious weeks and months of whatever time they may have left. For some terminally ill people, even with access to the very best palliative care, their pain cannot be managed, leading to harrowing and painful deaths.
Along with ethical objections, due to their faith for example, opponents of the bill raise concerns over the potential for abuse and the safeguarding of vulnerable individuals. They worry that the legislation could pressure terminally ill patients into choosing assisted dying. They also fear the criteria for determining terminal illness might be too broad, leading to premature deaths of those who could still have meaningful lives.
The bill is focused on choice and the final choice and final act of ending their own life must be taken by the terminally ill person themselves. Should the bill pass second reading, there will be robust scrutiny of it in the coming months, in both the Commons and the Lords.
Survey
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