…I can understand the argument for assisted dying, especially when I see people with dementia. I can (or I think I can) cope with physical frailty but it is the thought of losing one’s mind that troubles me most. Perhaps I, too, would want the independence to end my life at a time and circumstances of my choosing. But is dementia or another intractable condition even part of this assisted dying bill, which talks of capacity and death within fixed timeframes?
The proposed bill does not offer sufficient safeguarding for patients and doctors. Mental capacity can change depending on mood, physical distress or social hardship. There is always the risk that doctors will get it wrong. This risk of causing harm far outweighs any potential benefits.
Patients must have the trust and assurance that we are on their side. More thought needs to go into amending the bill further and looking at the practicalities of how assisted dying could be implemented, as there is no scope for this in routine medical practice. Assisted dying should not be the cheap alternative to high-quality palliative care.
The vote in the House of Commons has come in and it has rejected assisted dying by a substantial majority. Deo Gratias.
#2 Amen TT. I just heard about it in my church prayer group this evening: 330 against; 118 for, so rejected by a majority of 212 MP’s. Prayer answered.
Interestingly all polls of pensioners give a large majority against with very many expressing concern that they would come under pressure to end their lives if it had passed.