Assisted Suicide
CARE warns against assisted suicide Bill and 'undemocratic' timetable for scrutiny
MPs won't have sufficient time to scrutinise assisted suicide legislation before it's debated in the Commons, CARE has warned.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater is poised to publish her Bill to allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales to get lethal drugs from doctors.
With just over two weeks until its Second Reading, critics fear that MPs won't have time to properly weigh the proposals.
Ross Hendry, CEO of CARE, commented: “MPs need time to digest legislation of any kind, but on a proposal like this, which would have profound implications for our society, two weeks seems much too narrow a time-frame.
“We'd question whether this is the right approach at all for legislating on such sensitive and controversial matters. The last time MPs voted on this issue, they were given almost two months to scrutinise the Bill before them first.
“Allowing only a small window for scrutiny of this legislation could be seen as a deliberate move. We might ask if proponents are seeking to bounce MPs into making a snap decision about profound changes involving complex ethical and practical issues. That would be undemocratic, and irresponsible.”
CARE is opposed to assisted suicide and euthanasia and is urging MPs to oppose a change in the law. Mr Hendry added:
“We believe the UK's existing, life-affirming approach – meeting a person’s physical, mental, and spiritual needs as they grapple with an illness – is the most ethical, and compassionate one, and we'd urge parliamentarians to uphold this approach in the coming years.
“We fear the impact of assisted suicide on vulnerable and marginalised people in particular. No number of safeguards can remove the threat of patient coercion, and citizens choosing assisted suicide because they feel like a burden or lack health, social care, or welfare support.
“Doctors, disability groups, legal experts, faith groups and many others believe assisted suicide is the wrong path for the UK. We’d urge MPs to oppose a change in the law, and instead invest in ethical ways to support terminally ill Britons, and others implicated in this debate."
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
Public concern about a law change:
About CARE
Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) is a social policy charity, bringing Christian insight to the policies and laws that affect our lives.
Contact us: press@care.org.uk
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