My Death, My Decision has told the committee examining the Terminally Ill Adults Bill that the assisted dying process must be compassionate. In our recently published evidence to the committee, we said:
“At the heart of the legislation must be the journey of the terminally ill patient, and ensuring a compassionate process that is as straightforward, swift, and inexpensive as possible for applicants, whilst offering adequate safeguards to protect the most vulnerable.”
This evidence was submitted to a committee of 21 MPs who are looking into the details of the Terminally Ill Adults Bill, and will soon be debating amendments to the Bill line by line.
In our submission, we outlined how My Death, My Decision supports the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. We explained that the current legislation that prohibits assisted dying in any form is unsafe, unworkable, and severely lacking in compassion. The prohibition of assisted dying is directly causing thousands of individuals at the end of their lives to suffer undignified, prolonged and often painful deaths, in many cases taking their own lives using dangerous and unregulated methods.
We also outlined:
- Doctors should be free to raise assisted dying with their patients (as already provided in the Bill)
- The High Court as a third tier of protection may lengthen the process for dying applicants excessively, so alternatives such as tribunals should be explored
- The Bill should explicitly remove both criminal and civil consequences from those providing help to assisted dying applicants out of compassion.
Claire McDonald, Director of My Death, My Decision, said:
“20 people a day die with no effective pain relief in the last 3 months of their life, even if the highest levels of hospice-level care are available to patients. That’s absolutely wrong and terminally ill people deserve better.
While we’re absolutely committed to passing this legislation, we outlined a number of areas that the committee should examine and where the Bill could be amended. We’re dedicated to creating a kind, compassionate and dignified assisted dying law.”
Committee members have recently heard evidence from nearly 50 witnesses, including Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer, who similarly outlined that the law should not be too burdensome on the patient.
Introduced by the Labour MP Kim Leadbeater MBE, the Bill will allow adults who are terminally ill with six months or fewer left to live to ask for help to end their own lives. In November, MPs voted on the principle of this legislation, passing the second reading 330 votes to 275. The Bill is currently in the Committee Stage, where it will remain for several months of scrutiny before a final vote in the House of Commons next year.
The Bill applies to England and Wales only. A private member’s bill in Scotland by Liam McArthur MSP has been introduced in the Scottish Parliament.
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.
Media can use the following press images and videos, as long as they are attributed to “My Death, My Decision”.
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.
