ASSISTED suicide legislation at Westminster is “shambolic” and passing it would “recklessly endanger the lives of the most vulnerable”, an expert has said.
Dr Miro Griffiths MBE, an academic and adviser to national and supranational bodies on disability issues hit out after a recent debate on Kim Leadbeater’s bill, which has reached Report Stage in the House of Commons.
Dr Griffiths, who also leads the Better Way campaign, said the bill itself and scrutiny of it to date make its becoming law an alarming prospect.
He commented:
“The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill should make parliamentarians on all sides of the assisted suicide debate uneasy. On Friday, MPs heard how the bill continues to pose a threat to women victims of domestic abuse, people with learning disabilities, ethnic minority communities, young adults, vulnerable care home residents, people with eating disorders, people with diabetes, people with dementia, and others.
“The debate was curtailed, meaning some MPs didn’t get to speak to the amendments they have brought forward. More than a hundred amendments have been brought forward at Report Stage. That’s after a committee stage where more than five hundred amendments were debated and, in many cases, rejected despite clear moral, practical, and legal reasons for their being introduced, and endorsement by expert stakeholders.
“To make matters even worse, whilst medics’ conscience rights were affirmed, parliament narrowly rejected an amendment that would have provided an opt out for organisations like care homes and hospices that do not want to facilitate assisted suicides. Under the regime the bill sets out, some cherished services would be forced to close – in a societal context where people already struggle to get the support they need.”
Dr Griffiths added:
“The bill before Westminster is shambolic. The process of scrutiny has been shambolic. MPs need to vote the bill down – wherever they stand on assisted suicide philosophically. Any other course of action would recklessly endanger the lives of the most vulnerable members of our society.
“In our view, the case for assisted suicide is discredited. A wealth of evidence from other jurisdictions shows the disturbing consequences of embarking down this road. UK politicians can, and must, forge a better path forward.”
About Better Way
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.
Contact us: admin@betterwaycampaign.co.uk