Peer with disability: Assisted suicide says people like me are "better off dead"

Lord Kevin Shinkwin has said assisted suicide implies people with disabilities are "better off dead".

In a powerful article published in The Times today, the Peer, who has a rare genetic bone disorder, hit out at an attempt to force the UK Government to legislate for a change in the law.

An amendment to the government's Health and Care Bill by Tory Peer Lord Forsyth seeks to force the government's hand by compelling Ministers to bring forward an 'assisted dying' bill.

It is set to be debated in the Lords tomorrow, Wednesday 16 March, when the bill reaches the final proceedings of Report Stage.

Lord Shinkwin explained that he is opposing the amendment due to the dangerous precedent it would set, describing it as a "highly irregular attempt to seize control of the legislative agenda".

And he said he opposes assisted suicide in principle because it will "inevitably risk a scenario where people with disabilities and those with progressive conditions feel they are a burden, sensing pressure from doctors and, in some cases family, that they should consider an assisted suicide — a duty to die."

He added: "No one should underestimate the power differential in the doctor-patient relationship when one is ill. We are vulnerable to influence and hypersensitive to every nuance and inference. How easy it is to be told it is in 'your best interests' not to be treated when actually the subtext is that it would be in everyone else’s interests if you were dead."

"This dangerous amendment poses unacceptable risks to people when vulnerable, as I was very recently. Disabled people’s lives are not worth less. We want real choices in care and treatment, and when we seem to be dying, we want good palliative care, not to be nudged towards taking lethal drugs."

CARE has urged supporters to write to Peers about Lord Forsyth's amendment. You can use our helpful email function to raise your concerns.

Take Action: Ask Peers to vote against Lord Forsyth's assisted suicide amendment | CARE