Assisted dying (suicide) bill

A controversial bill to allow anyone with a medically certified terminal illness (less than 6 months to live) and with their faculties - to be able to take drugs to end their life, is being discussed in parliament.

The bill has momentum and the tide seems to be going in favour of supporters including Lord Carey - past Archbishop of Canterbury and Norman Lamb the Care Minister.

Last night I watched a very concise debate on This Week.

A précis of the points made are :-

FOR

• it should be an individual right to choose the death you want.
• to reduce unnecessary pain and suffering.
• it happens anyway - we turn a blind eye but leaves the assistants vulnerable under the law.

AGAINST

The "thin edge of the wedge" fears. At this stage it covers a terminal illness - 6 months from death - with faculties to make the decision. It does not cover conditions like locked in syndrome or paralysis or advanced dementia.

There are real and legitimate fears (see what has happened to abortions - now available on demand in practical terms compared with the original legislation) that the law will be extended to cover other conditions and controls be possibly watered down. There is the area of faculty and whether this should be an essential requirement.

Tammi Grey-Thompson made the point that throughout her rich and full life people have often said to her they would not want to live if they were paralysed like her.

Alan Johnson made the point that while you would expect families (loved ones) to have the right motives - this could not be always assumed and referred to undue pressures to end your life. 

T G-T said concerns about being a burden is often quoted as reason rather than pain. 

Would I be worried that the NHS - would see a way to reduce the cost burden. What a position we are asking our doctors to be in too.

The final point made was how difficult it is to enshrine all the complex and individual situations under one law and might best be left unwritten - but of course this is unsatisfactory too if these type of cases are being brought to the courts to decide. Judges do not want the job either.

I believe the thin end of the wedge argument is very compelling and I really believe that immoral pressures will be brought on some individuals based on burden and cost considerations. For these reasons I do not support the bill.