Opinions divided on Assisted Dying Bill

Legalising assisted suicide would cement the belief that terminally ill people are ‘a burden’, according to the chair of one of the UK’s leading disability charities.

Dr Alice Maynard said that Lord Falconer’s Assisted Dying Bill could lead people into making decisions they would regret.

The Private Members Bill, which Peers debated for ten hours inside the House of Lords on July 18, would legalise assisted dying for some terminally ill patients.

The Bill, which is based on Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act, would allow people who have ‘a clear and settled intention to end his or her own life’ to seek medical assistance if they are in a fit state of mind to make the decision.

Dr Maynard sharply criticised the Bill. She said: “I think this Bill stems from a deep-seated belief that the lives of sick and disabled people are not worth as much as other people’s.

“I’ve met people who have experienced very serious accidents, and who begged to be allowed to die because their lives were changed beyond all recognition.

“Now they are really glad to be here. I worry that a change in the law would lead to people making the biggest decision they can make, when they aren’t in the right frame of mind.”

Campaigners from Dignity in Dying have rubbished these claims and highlighted the successes of Oregon’s Act.

Chief Executive Sarah Wootton said: “an overwhelming majority of the public has consistently supported change, and the traditional opposition from faith leaders and medics is beginning to crumble.”

A joint statement from faith leaders expressed concern about the Bill’s impact. Leaders from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist faiths said: “This bill would have a serious detrimental effect on the wellbeing of individuals and on the nature and shape of our society.

“Every human life is of intrinsic value and ought to be affirmed and cherished. Being perceived as a burden or as a financial drain is a terrible affliction to bear, leading in many cases to passivity, depression and self-loathing.”

‪”The bill raises the issue of what sort of society we wish to become: one in which life is to be understood primarily in terms of its usefulness and individuals evaluated in terms of their utility or one in which every person is supported, protected and cherished even if, at times, they fail to cherish themselves.”

Suzanne Stevenson, Head of Press at Help the Hospice, said that is was paramount that people received excellent care before they made decisions about ending their life.

Ms Stevenson said: “Good hospice and palliative care can greatly improve most people’s

experience of living with and dying from a terminal condition.

“Many people using hospice services find that they have a further positive phase of life which they never expected to have – perhaps coming to terms with their situation and experiencing a greater quality of life than they had imagined possible during their final weeks or months.”

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

VIEWS FROM THE  PUBLIC:

“If an individual expresses their wish to die due to agonising pain caused by an incurable illness it seems to me that it is a moral obligation to relieve them of such suffering where we can. We should have a right to die to without suffering and with dignity.” (Emma Obertelli, 24, a teacher, from London)

“I am in favour of it because I believe that everyone has the right to choose how to end their lives. I think its absurd to assume that everyone would go out and kill their rich relatives if euthanasia were legalized.”(Mary Davies, 71, retired, from South East London)

“I don’t believe anyone should be placed in a position where they take someone's life with or without their consent.

We shouldn’t place people in a position where they may feel pressure to end their lives if they perceive themselves to be a drain on resources or a nuisance to society.” (Cathy Burke, Nurse, 56, from Salisbury)