My Death, My Decision held a rally earlier this week in support of assisted dying, coinciding with the Westminster Hall debate on assisted dying.
Our supporters joined the well-attended rally alongside Humanists UK, co-founders of the assisted dying coalition. Hundreds of attendees waved banners and chanted in the direction of parliament.
Speeches came from Trevor Moore, Chair of My Death, My Decision, Humanists UK CEO Andrew Copson, and campaigners Clare Powell and Bryan Grayson, who have been affected by the current cruel law.
The rally took place an hour before a debate to “Hold a parliamentary vote on assisted dying”. The debate was organised after nearly 200,000 people signed a petition.
The debate was well attended by MPs and members of the public who were queuing outside Parliament to attend the three-hour-long debate.
Support from the streets outside Parliament, spilled into Westminster Hall where politicians spoke in support of a law change.
Tory MP Siobhan Baillie began to cry as she shared the testimony of a constituent who had written to her about his mum, “She went on to plead for death in the final weeks, it took 16 weeks for her to die, effectively from starvation.”
Green MP Caroline Lucas said the current law “drives practices overseas or behind closed doors where there are no safeguards in place to protect people.”
We continue to campaign for adults who are unbearably suffering from an incurable physical condition to have the right to choose a compassionate and dignified death.
Trevor Moore, Chair of My Death, My Decision said:
‘It is heartening to see such passionate support for law change on assisted dying for the incurably suffering. We know that the overwhelming majority of the public are in favour – now it’s time for the politicians to stop dragging their heels.
We urge all parties to include in their manifestos a commitment to allow Parliamentary time for a Bill to be properly debated and voted on. All candidates in the General Election will know that this has their constituents’ support.”
Notes:
Members of the MDMD team, as well as individuals affected by the current law on assisted dying, are available for interview upon request
For further comment or information, media should contact Nathan Stilwell at nathan.stilwell@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or phone 07456200033.
My Death, My Decision is a grassroots campaign group that wants the law in England and Wales to allow mentally competent adults who are terminally ill or intolerably suffering from an incurable condition the option of a legal, safe, and compassionate assisted death. With the support of over 3,000 members and supporters, we advocate for an evidence-based law that would balance individual choice alongside robust safeguards and finally give the people of England and Wales choice at the end of their lives.
