Media personalities say assisted suicide bill harms those with eating disorders

In an open letter to the House of Lords, several charities including Mind have written to “express deep concern” about the Leadbeater Bill and “the serious risk it poses to people with eating disorders.”

Signatories of the letter include the Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner, TV presenter Gail Porter, and Hollyoaks actress Stephanie Waring, all of whom have suffered from eating disorders.

The letter comes as the House of Lords begins its committee stage deliberations over the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. Their first session only managed to progress through the first two lines of the bill.

The open letter expresses the concern that “this bill could make individuals with eating disorders eligible for assisted death at times when they are unable to access or accept treatment. Many young people who could recover with effective care might instead receive lethal medication during a period of despair.”

The letter also laments how “no eating disorder expert was invited to give evidence to the Select Committee, despite repeated warnings.”

The open letter highlights how, in places where assisted suicide is legal, those with eating disorders have died despite laws intended only for those who are terminally ill. They tell the story of Jessica, a woman with anorexia and depression from Colorado. When she was unable to increase her nutritional intake, she was prescribed medication to end her life. This despite her family testifying that she said repeatedly that she did not want to die.

Among the signatories is Sophie Turner who has starred in TV and film and battled bulimia as a teenage actress because of pressure from the industry. Now a mother of two, she has a more positive relationship with her body, saying in an interview, “I want this body to be around as long as possible so I can spend time with my children for as long as possible”.

Gail Porter, who has battled anorexia and also signed the letter, said: “The evidence from abroad cannot be brushed aside. People with eating disorders deserve support to live, and I worry this bill could end the lives of young people who need support to recover, not assistance to die.”

“When you are unwell,” said Stephanie Waring who appeared in Hollyoaks, “you can feel hopeless, frightened, and convinced there is no way out. People need treatment and understanding, not help to end their lives.”