On 26 May, Baroness Meacher introduced her Assisted Dying Bill in the House of Lords. The Bill aims to change the law in England and Wales to allow terminally ill patients, with months left to live, the option of an assisted killing. It's the latest attempt by the pro-assisted suicide lobby to change the law, after numerous Bills in the past were voted down or failed to pass.
At CARE, we remain committed to the view that assisted suicide should be rejected and more investment given to quality end of life care. Find out more about why we're opposed to this Bill.
Please contact Members of the House of Lords and ask them to speak and vote against the Meacher Bill when it has its Second Reading on 22 October.
Points to make:
Below you'll find some suggested points to make. Please use your own words as this will carry far more weight.
- Please ask the Peer to speak and vote against Baroness Meacher's Assisted Dying Bill when it comes for a Second Reading.
- Point out that there are serious public safety concerns about the proposed legislation, with no proof the so called ‘safeguards’ in the Bill will even work.
- Say you’re aware that within three years of Canada permitting assisted suicide in 2016, one of its key safeguards – that assisted suicide should only be permitted for those who are terminally ill and with six months or less to live - was removed and assisted suicide was opened to include people who are not terminally ill.
- Point out that any so called ‘right to die’ is likely to become a duty for many people who realise that their care is expensive and who feel they are a burden.
