Dr Liz Evans & Clare Wills-Harrison on Assisted Dying Bills November 2024

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We are joined by lawyer, Clare Wills-Harrison

(Telegram channel - https://t.me/lawyersoflight)

(Substack - https://open.substack.com/pub/clarewillsharrison/p/the-levelling-up-and-regeneration?r=18q3db&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true)

to discuss the forthcoming private member's Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill which will have its second reading on Friday 29th November. These bills seek to enable terminally ill adults to get help from doctors to kill themselves – known as assisted dying or assisted suicide.

Iain MacArthur put forward a similar Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament in March, which is currently being examined by the "lead committee".

Clare discusses the bill with our CEO, Dr Liz Evans, and the conversation delves a little deeper into the reality of the situation as opposed to the romantic vision of a pain-free passing assisted by a Doctor with specialist skills.

The UK Medical Freedom Alliance have just launched a new campaign to oppose bills going through both Westminster and Holyrood.

We understand that this is a highly emotive issue and respect those with deeply held views in support of Assisted Dying, often in the context of a personal experience of suffering for themselves or loved ones. However, having considered all the complex ethical and practical issues, the UK Medical Freedom Alliance will oppose any change in the law that would allow Assisted Dying or Euthanasia for the following reasons:

These bills pose a very serious threat to the sanctity and dignity of every human life and to medical ethics which requires a doctor to “First do no Harm”.
Doctor-assisted dying denies the intrinsic value of human life and normalises death as a valid treatment for suffering.
It is impossible to build in “safeguards” to prevent a slippery slope. Eligibility criteria will inevitably widen under legal challenges under equality laws.
Real world experience of Assisted Dying and Euthanasia legislation in Canada, Netherlands, Oregan and Belgium is horrifying.
Legislating for the choice to die will lead to vulnerable people feeling a duty to die.
Disability rights campaigners are some of the most vocal opponents of Assisted Dying.
The incentive to improve and provide good palliative care for all would be gone.
Most Palliative Care doctors are strongly opposed to assisted dying and instead want resources to be put into increased access and funding for high quality palliative care and hospices so that no one needs to die in pain.
It is a myth that assisted dying is necessary to prevent a painful death.
With the current broken NHS and social care system, introducing assisted dying would not be safe for the public – coercion and abuse would be a real and significant risk, especially for the elderly, disabled and vulnerable.

CALLS TO ACTION

We are asking people to lobby their MPs to vote against the Leadbeater Bill, before the 29th November, when it has its second reading and vote.

Links to “Calls to Action” and helpful resources from many other campaign groups are below in the titles, and is also on our campaign page.

PROTEST - 29th November 9am-12pm outside Parliament. Organised by Christian Concern.
EMAIL YOUR MP – using this Template Email on Right to Life website
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS – Sign Our Duty of Care Open Letter to PM
ONLINE DEBATE – Together Declaration “Assisted Dying Bill: The Big Debate” Wednesday 20 November 7pm
PETITION – against Scottish Assisted Dying Bill at Care Not Killing website.
It is VITAL that ordinary people make their voices heard before the November 29th deadline.

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