Parliament votes for Assisted Dying Bill

Source: CBCEW/ICN

MPs have just voted by 314 votes to 291 in support of Kim Leadbeater's Assisted Suicide Bill. This is a reduced majority of 23, down from the 55-vote majority the Bill had at Second Reading. The Bill now proceeds on to the House of Lords.

Speaking after the Third Reading vote in the House of Common Dr Gordon Macdonald, CEO of Care Not Killing commented: "This is a deeply flawed and dangerous Bill that since November has been made considerably worse with important safeguards watered down or scrapped. Take the proposal for the High Court to oversee each application as part of a formal judicial process - something sold to the public as making the Bill the 'safest in the world". Now an opaque informal panel, will review applications, chosen from those with a predisposition in favour of assisted suicide as most medics and psychiatrists will refuse to take part. Importantly the panel will not have the power to compel witnesses like a court, do not have to speak to the applicant, the applicant's loved ones or even the family doctor.

"But this is the problem when legislation is rushed for ideological reasons. Indeed, during the Report Stage, MPs had under 10 hours to consider over 130 amendments to the Bill, or less than 5 minutes per change. Does anyone think this is enough time to consider changes to a draft law that quite literally is a matter of life and death?"

He continued: "The current Bill fails to protect vulnerable and disabled people from coercion. This is not hyperbolae but based on what happens in the US state of Oregon, the model for this law. There, a majority of those who have ended their lives in recent years cite fear of being a burden on their families, carers or finances as a reason. While that law has been expanded and extended several times. Worryingly 'terminal' now includes eating disorders such as anorexia and even insulin dependent diabetes.

"And while MPs are focused on debating assisted suicide, they are not focusing on palliative and end of life care which is crisis in our Country. One in four people who would benefit from palliative care can't access it and our amazing hospices, are so short of cash that 20 per cent of them have cut services or staff. This is what we should be talking about. We need much more care, not killing."

Catherine Robinson from Right To Life UK, said: "Although the Bill passed the Commons today, momentum remains with its opponents, with support consistently falling every time MPs have considered it. The Bill leaves the Commons lacking a majority, with fewer than half of all MPs voting for it at its final stage.

"The Bill still faces an uphill battle to reach Royal Assent. We will be fighting it at every stage in the House of Lords."

Archbishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues at the Bishops Conference, said in a statement: 'The Bishops of England and Wales have been consistent and outspoken in their opposition to the legalisation of assisted suicide, and we are shocked and disappointed that MPs have voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. This Bill is flawed in principle with several provisions that give us great cause for concern.

'The Catholic Church believes in promoting a culture of life and compassionate care. Allowing the medical profession to help patients end their lives will change the culture of healthcare and cause legitimate fears amongst those with disabilities or who are especially vulnerable in other ways.

'We are also concerned about the future of palliative care, not least because experience suggests that, unless there are explicit protections, hospices may be required to co-operate with assisted suicide. If this were to happen, the future of many Catholic institutions could be under threat.

'This is not the end of the parliamentary process, and we should not lose hope. We ask the Catholic community to continue to pray for members of parliament whilst they consider this legislation and to pray that government will act to promote and protect life from conception until natural death.

'We have expressed the view, during this debate, that genuine compassion involves accompanying those who need care, especially during sickness, disability and old age. The vocation to care is at the heart of the lives of so many people who look after their loved ones and is the sign of a truly compassionate society. As we stated after the second reading, it is essential that we nurture and renew the innate call that many people have to compassionately care for others.

'The Bishops of England and Wales believe that improving the quality and availability of palliative care offers the best pathway to reducing suffering at the end of life. We will continue to advocate for this, and we ask the Catholic community to support those who work tirelessly to care for the dying in our hospices, hospitals and care homes.'