Hi,
As many of you are aware, the Assisted Dying Bill is being introduced to Westminster on 17th October 2024 and will be debated/voted on later in the year. This is a contentious issue that many people have very strong and emotive opinions about.
To be clear – I am not against euthanasia when a person has taken the difficult decision to end their own life. Dignitas currently offers a way out for the minority who feel this is the path for them. Assisted suicide via Dignitas is not an easy process, the person goes through, as far as I am aware, rigorous screening to make sure there is no coercion involved. This is not an advert for Dignitas, I am simply sharing information to make it clear what their ‘screening’ involves.
Extract from brochure (link above)
In accordance with this purpose the activities of DIGNITAS comprise, amongst others:
- Counselling in regard to all end-of-life issues
- Cooperation with physicians, clinics and other associations
- Carrying out Patient’s Instructions and patient’s rights with regard to doctors and clinics
- Suicide- and suicide-attempt prevention
- Support in conflicts with the authorities, with the management of nursing homes and with doctors not chosen by the patient
- Further legal developments in regard to questions about “the last issues”
- Accompaniment of dying patients and assistance with a self-determined end of life.
I feel much of the current debate around assisted suicide will lead to chronically ill and disabled people being at a higher risk of coercion (family/doctors) and these groups need to be considered EXTENSIVELY within this debate.
I know there have been members of our M.E. community who have taken the difficult decision to end their life in Switzerland and my heart breaks that they felt they couldn’t continue living due to the obscene lack of treatments, care, or cures for M.E. It is usually societal, healthcare, and Government failures that cause people with M.E. to opt for assisted suicide rather than having a terminal illness. While these societal, healthcare, and Government failures persist, I think it is immoral to have the Assisted Dying bill on the agenda. Why is there not an Assisted Living bill up for debate? Why is the Government in Westminster not concentrating on improving social care/palliative care/funding research into neglected diseases?
As a resident in England, I wrote to my own MP (Stephen Morgan MP) as myself and ME Foggy Dog/Stripy Lightbulb CIC with my concerns which I hope he considers before voting during the debate.
SUBJECT LINE – Please vote against the assisted dying bill
I am writing to express my deep concerns regarding the Assisted Dying Bill currently being considered in Parliament.While I believe in the importance of personal autonomy and choice, I fear that this legislation could mark the beginning of a very slippery slope. Without strict regulations and robust safeguards, we risk normalising assisted suicide in a way that could endanger vulnerable populations, including those living with chronic illnesses like M.E.The experience in Canada with their Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program raises significant concerns. Reports indicate that individuals with disabilities and chronic conditions often feel pressure to consider assisted dying as a viable option due to a lack of adequate support and resources. We must ensure that any decisions surrounding life and death are made free from coercion and reflect true autonomy. With the recent backdrop of the COVID19 inquiry’s recent findings on DNRs issued inappropriately to chronically sick and disabled people at the height of the ongoing pandemic, it is right to approach this subject with extreme caution – not hastily at the request of a terminally ill celebrity.I strongly advocate for a comprehensive government and public review of this issue, aimed at developing ground-breaking solutions that prioritise improved healthcare, mental health support, and palliative care. By focusing on enhancing the quality of life for all, we can foster a society that truly respects individual choice without compromising the safety and dignity of our most vulnerable citizens.Thank you for considering my perspective. I urge you to vote against the Assisted Dying Bill to protect the rights and well-being of those with disabilities and chronic illnesses.