Assisted suicide 'Groundhog Day' as parliamentary inquiry announced

CARE has decried an assisted suicide 'Groundhog Day' following the announcement of a new parliamentary inquiry into the issue.

MPs on the Commons Health and Social Care Committee will consider evidence next year and make recommendations to government.

Assisted suicide was strongly rejected by both MPs and MSPs in 2015, after a careful examination of evidence from other jurisdictions.

Lousie Davies, Director of Advocacy and Policy at CARE, said:

“It’s sad to see yet another bid to force the issue of assisted suicide onto the political agenda at Westminster, despite it being roundly rejected by parliamentarians in previous years. This inquiry was recommended at a parliamentary event in November, by activists who want the UK to adopt Canada’s extreme euthanasia framework.

As recently as 2015, MPs voted overwhelmingly against ‘assisted dying’ after hearing real-world evidence of safeguards failing, and vulnerable people facing terrible abuses. Many MPs were also swayed by the moving testimony of disabled people, who feel that assisted suicide compounds discrimination against their community.

This new inquiry suggests past debates and concerns held by marginalised people matter little to some. This issue has been put to bed, yet it’s constantly resurrected. It is vital that MPs taking part in this enquiry listen to a wide range of voices, consider all evidence submitted to them carefully, and produce a balanced report.

We are confident that a thorough examination of evidence will re-affirm the fact assisted suicide is a dangerous and regressive practice that should not be enabled in the UK. In the wake of such a finding, it will be even more important for MPs to invest in ethical alternatives that affirm, protect, and assist people implicated in this debate.”

ENDS

Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) provides analysis of social policy from a Christian perspective. For more information or to request an interview, contact Jamie Gillies | jamie.gillies@care.org.uk