Assisted Dying Bill

From RIGHT TO LIFE: Assisted Dying Bill: The Committee of MPs responsible for scrutinising Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide Bill completed its final session. 

The Bill’s sponsor, Kim Leadbeater, promised meaningful scrutiny at Committee Stage and claimed her Bill would have the “strictest safeguards anywhere in the world”. Unfortunately, proceedings at Committee Stage have shown these promises to have been hollow. Well over 300 amendments that sought to strengthen safeguards in the Bill and that would have protected vulnerable groups were rejected by Kim Leadbeater and other Bill supporters. This included rejecting amendments that would have: 

• Explicitly protected people with Down’s syndrome, autism and learning difficulties under the Bill. 
• Prevented doctors from raising assisted suicide with patients unprompted, including children under the age of 18. 
• Prohibited assisted suicide in cases where a person has been encouraged or manipulated into a request or where a request has been made under “undue influence”, putting the victims of domestic abuse at risk. 

These are just some examples of the over 300 amendments that Leadbeater and other Bill supporters rejected. This decision to reject these amendments, which would have strengthened safeguards in the Bill and protected vulnerable groups, was an intentional choice, revealing a deliberate preference for a loose Bill, allowing for future expansion - something I am sure you are aware has happened with similar laws overseas. The Times printed a very strong editorial that highlights the serious problems with the Bill. It calls on MPs to “kill this bill”. TAKE ACTION It’s vital that MPs are aware of these serious problems with how Kim Leadbeater and her allies have conducted Committee Stage of the Bill and the rejection of over 300 amendments. It’s also really important that they know that you, as a constituent, are very concerned about this and that they must vote against the Bill at Third Reading. Right to Life have launched an easy-to-use tool that makes it simple to email your local MP on this new important development. Even if you have already emailed your MP asking them to oppose this Bill, it’s really important that you email them again with this new information, which we need to get in front of MPs now. Please take action and click the button below to contact your MP now. It only takes 30 seconds. 

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Previous News : Assisted Dying Bill:-  Media reports suggest that the Cross Party Select Committee for the ‘Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill’ have extensively consulted with apparent witnesses or experts who favour assisted dying, having little consultation with any who might oppose the Bill. According to Alithea Williams, from SPUC, amongst the experts, an American doctor, and advocate of assisted suicide, “suggested that being a “burden” was enough reason to die. One doctor even said that it should be a "felony" for loved ones to “interfere with a patient’s right to make this choice”.” (see:-Pro-life advocates in UK say assisted suicide Bill ‘protections’ already being lowered | Crux ) 

When the Bill was tabled for a vote in Nov 2024, paragraph 12 of the Bill made very clear that a High Court Judge was to ensure that in each situation due diligence and the Law was to be followed and that the Law be adhered to; see section 12 (5) to (11) of the Bill at: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. Reports suggest that this judicial element, scrutiny by a High Court Judge could be lost. 

Many of the assurances which were initially given that the UK Law on ‘assisted dying’ would be the strictest in the world are fast eroding, which should be cause for grave concern – particularly with a view to 50 or 60 years hence and your great, great grandchildren who will be making decisions about anyone who is presently 10 to 25 years of age. If such a Bill becomes Law at this time, there is little hope for anyone in the not so distant future. 

To counter this culture of death and to promote a gospel of life, please support the petition from SPUC at YES to our hospices, NO to assisted suicide – SPUC (it is what it states) asking the Government to do more to support the hospice movement and the work done by everyone involved in palliative care. 

Again, to encourage you to write to your MP at the House of Commons, asking them to oppose the Assisted Dying Bill and to support funding etc for the hospice movement. The MP for Dorking and Horley is Chris Coughlan (Lib Dem)