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Older people ‘locked out’ of Assisted Dying Bill scrutiny

Older people have been “locked out” of the scrutiny process for Westminster ‘assisted dying’ legislation despite being more at risk of abuse, campaigners say.

Better Way notes that a call for evidence by a committee considering Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is only seeking online responses via email.

This is despite research showing that around 1 in 5 people aged 65 plus – equivalent to 2.7 million of this age group – do not use the internet, whilst others only use it in limited ways.

Speaking after MPs heard oral evidence from a range of expert witnesses, Better Way spokesman Dr Miro Griffiths, an academic and expert adviser, commented:

“As the committee looking at Kim Leadbeater’s Bill hears oral evidence it is worth noting that its call for written evidence only seeks email submissions, making it inaccessible to many older people who do not have internet access, or lack confidence in using digital technology.

“This is concerning when you consider that older people are at increased risk of crimes like coercion – a point addressed by the charity Hourglass during committee proceedings this week. Older people’s voices should be heard but they have not been well facilitated in this process.”

Dr Griffiths added:

“The process for scrutinising the Leadbeater Bill falls short of what should reasonably be expected for a proposal of this magnitude. Close to fifty witnesses were crammed into three days of evidence, meaning no truly in-depth analysis by parliamentarians was possible.

“As the Bill is member’s legislation, there is no requirement for an impact assessment, which the government has also declined to provide. When it comes to voting on amendments, most committee MPs are known to support ‘assisted dying’, and the Bill proposer has significant influence.

“At the end of last year, when parliament voted to progress the Bill, many MPs did so in the understanding that it would be subjected to thorough scrutiny down the line. That rigorous scrutiny has not been forthcoming, and we’d therefore urge parliament to reject the Bill.”

ENDS

Better Way campaign opposes assisted suicide, sets out an alternative vision, and provides a platform for marginalised voices. The campaign is supported by experts in several fields including medicine, disability advocacy, and sociology.

Find out more: Website / Social media

Contact us: admin@betterwaycampaign.co.uk

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