CARE: Assisted suicide Bill vote is “blow to human dignity”

A vote for assisted suicide at Westminster is a “blow to human dignity”, a charity has said, as it vowed to fight on.

This afternoon, MPs voted to progress a Bill to legalise the practice brought forward by Kim Leadbeater MP by a margin of 314 votes to 291.

Speaking after the result was announced in parliament, Ross Hendry, CEO of CARE, which is campaigning against a change in the law, said:

“This vote for assisted suicide is a blow to human dignity and people whose legitimate fears have been dismissed as irrelevant.

"Legalising this practice would send a harmful message that lives marked by illness and disability are not worth living, and lead to abuses against vulnerable and marginalised members of society: lonely elderly people, disabled people, victims of domestic abuse and others. Those who advocate for these groups will be feeling anxious and angry.

“People on both sides of the assisted suicide debate share a desire to relieve human suffering. In our view, facilitating suicides under an irredeemably flawed legislative regime is the wrong way to help struggling citizens. Palliative and end-of-life care requires significant, and urgent investment. Yet, conventional care would be harmed if assisted suicide becomes legal.

"We will continue to fight this Bill, along with many others.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors

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