Peers won't be bullied into passing unsafe assisted dying bill

Care Not Killing has welcomed the defiant comments from Peers debating the Assisted Dying Bill today, that they will not be rushed or bullied into passing an unsafe law that threatens the lives of vulnerable people.

Dr Gordon Macdonald, Chief Executive of Care Not Killing, commented: "It looks increasingly likely that attempts to strong-arm peers into passing an unsafe bill with threats of using the Parliament Act are failing, indeed it appears to be strengthening opposition.

"Lord Falconer only has himself to blame as he has refused to substantially engage with any meaningful dialogue around safeguards, legal protections for doctors and medics who do not wish to kill their patients and boosting palliative care before legalising assisted suicide. Worse still, he has dismissed those with genuine concerns, trying to smear them as being wholly motivated by faith, most notably when he attacked Shabana Mahmood, saying she only opposed assisted dying for 'religious reasons and spiritual reasons' and that this, 'shouldn't be imposed on everybody else'."

He continued: "This is an incredibly important issue that every aspect needs to be thoroughly scrutinised and tested to ensure that if a Bill is sent back to the Commons, it is not riddled with so many holes that have seen scores of doctors' groups, eating disorder charities, disability rights groups oppose the current proposals."

Dr Macdonald concluded: "I know that Lord Falconer was part of the Government which published the so-called 'dodgy dossier' leading to legally questionable war, where over 100,000 civilians died, and has in opposition voted against actual Government legislation, while lecturing peers that this is something they must never do on a private members' bill that only just squeaked through the House of Commons, but he should stop threatening and start listening to those with expertise on this matter. A good start would be the Constitutional Committee that only last year stated that it is 'constitutionally appropriate for the House to scrutinise the Bill and, if so minded, vote to amend, or reject it'. That seems conclusive."

Care Not Killing is a UK-based alliance bringing together over 40 organisations - human rights and disability rights organisations, health care and palliative care groups, faith-based organisations groups - and thousands of concerned individuals.

We have three key aims:

to promote more and better palliative care;
to ensure that existing laws against euthanasia and assisted suicide are not weakened or repealed;
to inform public opinion further against any weakening of the law.

If you would like to talk with someone about issues raised in this article, the Samaritans are available 24 hours a day. Call free on 116 123 or visit: www.samaritans.org

Read more about Care Not Killing: https://carenotkilling.org.uk/