Public deeply worried about 'perfect storm' of assisted dying and benefit cuts

Photo by Olga Kononenko on Unsplash

Source: SPUC

A new poll shows the public are deeply concerned about the "perfect storm" of MPs legalising assisted dying, while pushing through savage benefit cuts impacting disabled people.

Asked if they agreed with the statement: "I would be worried about the timing of introducing any law which could encourage people to opt to take their own life just at the moment when welfare cuts are being made", over half of those surveyed, (51 per cent) agreed, while just three in 10 (31 per cent) disagreed.

The poll of more than 2,000 members of the public, conducted by Whitestone Insight, a British Polling Council member, found nearly six in 10 of those surveyed believe that no law can safeguard against rogue medics abusing the change for their "own gratification".

Asked: "The cases of Dr Harold Shipman and Lucy Letby show that no law to hand the power over life and death to medical staff can be implemented without the risk that a rogue individual will abuse it for their own gratification, 57 per cent agreed while just one in five, (19 per cent) disagreed.

The survey suggests that while a majority of the public (71 per cent) still support the principle of assisted suicide for terminally ill mentally competent adults who are in pain, when presented details of what changing the law entails, support falls away.

Asked if legalising assisted dying risked normalising suicide, opposition to changing the law rise to more than one three (36 per cent) of respondents, while support dropped to 42 per cent.

While the prospect of private companies cashing in on assisted dying, overseeing the process and providing the death row drug to patients saw opposition to changing the law jump to over half, 52 per cent and support drop to one in six (16 per cent).

Opposition rose further when asked about the Bill allowing for assisted suicide for teenagers (58 per cent versus 17 per cent) and those with anorexia (66 per cent versus 11 per cent).

Michael Robinson, Executive Director of SPUC, said the poll shows the that the British public, while not wanting terminally ill adults to die in pain, had a good understanding of the massive dangers of changing the law. He commented: "This polling clearly shows the public has a much better understanding of the problems with changing the law than some proponents of the bill believe. Indeed, the public know that legalising assisted dying at the same time as slashing benefits, will create a perfect storm, putting pressure of vulnerable and disabled people to end their lives prematurely - and they don't like it.

"Similarly, they are deeply troubled by proposals to allow private companies to cash in on a change in the law, are shocked the law could apply to teenagers and are horrified that MPs believe that people with eating disorders such as anorexia should be allowed to end their life. This is why the current bill must be rejected by Parliament."

The poll also found members of the public were concerned that assisted dying could be used by abusive partners, with just under half (46 per cent) thinking any change in the law should be delayed until there were better preventative measures were in place to stop domestic abuse. One in three (29 per cent) disagreed while just under a quarter (23 per cent) were unsure.

Interestingly, in response to concerns over abusive partners the idea of a pause was backed by 44 per cent of men and 48 per cent of women. Furthermore, among 18-24-year-olds the proportion who in response would support a delay rose to 62 per cent and among non-white Britons and Muslim respondents support for a delay rose even further to 63 per cent and two thirds (67 per cent) respectively.

Delaying any legislation until measures to protect people from domestic abuse and coercion was also backed by more supporters of each political party than oppose except by SNP voters.

Mr Robinson concluded: "We hope that sharing these findings with MPs will convince them to reject this dangerous piece of legislation, which opens the door to abuse and coercion of vulnerable and disabled people, who need much better need support, care and protection, not a deeply troubling dog whistle message that while cutting their benefits the state will happily pay for their death."