Government divided over assisting dying bill

By Abigail Tobias

“If I knew that I could die, I would live. My life, my death, my choice,” commented Sir Terry Pratchett who strongly supported legalising assisted dying after
being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. 14 years later an assisted dying is once again being discussed and scrutinised by newspapers and MPs due to the introduction of The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. The bill would give terminally ill adults, expected to live less than 6
months, the ability to end their life – subject to safeguards described as “stringent”. This will be a free vote and has therefore opened inner party divides, and cross-party accords as the arguments and ramifications of this issue are far more complex than left or right.

One such partnership who admit that “their politics could not be more different” are current longest serving male and female MP Diane Abbott and Conservative Sir Edward Leigh. In a letter in The Guardian, they highlighted what they believed to be the “inadequate timescale” of the bill is a risk to minorities
“who are the most likely to resign themselves to an assisted death against their will, because they are unable to access the support they require”.

Whilst many agree they raise valid points, their position does not appear to align with public opinion. According to a poll by YouGov, 73% of Britons believe that assisted dying should be legal, with only 13% against. Both left and right wing do appear to be in favour with only a slight deviation: Reform UK and
Conservative voters are far more likely to oppose the bill (17-20%), than Labour and Lib Dem voters are predicted to be (8-10%).

Despite clear public support, other MPs have still indicated they will vote against. Wes Streeting has faced criticism regarding his comments that the bill could be a “chilling slippery slope” – that it could be expanded to include those suffering for non-terminal reasons where there are worries surrounding the potential for it becoming easier for those suffering to end their life, than access care.

Despite clear public support, other MPs have still indicated they will vote against

Labour peer Harriet Hardman drew attention to the fact that as a cabinet member Mr Streeting had violated the neutrality policy expected of the Government in a free vote. In an interview with The Observer, she said that “it’s really important that the government is neutral”. She proceeded to criticise Mr Streeting’s warning that assisted dying could become a cost burden on the NHS, saying that argument threatened to denigrate the issue to that of “pounds and pence”
stressing “It must be an argument about individual choice and moral principle. It cannot be an argument about money.”

Many have made a point that palliative care is not in a place where it is ethical to introduce assisted dying and Disability Rights UK stated, “until access to
good quality support and services become the norm, we believe that opting for assisted dying may not be a real choice, and the proposed change in the law poses a danger to disabled people.”

Disability groups are often cited as being a large source of resistance to the bill but contrary to these claims was a poll earlier this year indicating 78% of disabled people supported legalisation. In the British Medical Journal, disability activist Stephen Duckworth argued “I also find it immoral that disabled people are exploited by those with principled opposition to law change […] campaigning to prohibit autonomy, choice, and control over this stage of life contradicts the central principles of disability activism. I cannot see justification for this kind of “pick and mix” approach to disability rights, when in other areas we campaign for the right to choose and to have our voices heard.”

Bodily autonomy and compassion for those in pain, are two main arguments in favour and supporters point to regimes such as Victoria in Australia where they
argue there have been no outbreaks of pressurised suicide. For certain conditions palliative care cannot remove the pain and for some death is preferable to their current standard of life.

The bill passed its second reading on Friday 29th November by 330 to 275 votes. There are more steps to go through before the bill becomes law.

Image Credit: Public Domain