- Should assisted dying be legalized? email megan.howe@mailonline.co.uk
Celebrities and activists will gather in Westminster today ahead of a debate on assisted dying, after cancer-stricken Mrs Esther Rantzen backed the campaign.
Broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, Dame Susan Hampshire and long-time activist Peter Tatchell are expected to be among the celebrities in attendance.
Change campaigning group My Death, My Decision described it as a “key moment in the campaign for compassionate assisted dying”.
This comes after a debate petition, promoted by Dame Esther, who has stage 4 lung cancer and has registered with Swiss assisted dying clinic Dignitas, received more than 200,000 signatures. .
The Childline founder, 83, previously led a chorus of dismay after MPs' report on assisted dying failed to provide clear findings or recommendations, calling for a free vote on the issue. Ta.
Dame Esther told ITV News: “I had three deaths in quick succession. My husband Dessie (Desmond) was there, my girlfriend's mother was there, our dog was there, and my dog had the best death. There is no doubt about it.”
“We can provide a painless death for our beloved pets, but we cannot provide it for our loving families.”
Dame Esther slammed the current law, which could put her family at risk of prosecution if she helped someone get to Switzerland, as “wrong” and “unethical”.
Last week, Dame Esther said she would “unfortunately” be unable to attend Monday's event in person due to health reasons, but added that she would be “careful in the discussion as it would affect my own decision to travel to Dignitas in Zurich if necessary.” I'll watch over you,'' he vowed. Please protect your family from witnessing a sad death. ”
Dame Esther's daughter Rebecca Wilcox told GMB this morning that they had always been a “wildly open family”.
He added: “This woman is very important to me, she is my best friend. I talk to her four times a day about everything and I love her.”
“But if you go to Switzerland with her, you could be prosecuted, a process that can take up to two years, cost thousands of pounds in legal costs and potentially result in a prison sentence of up to 14 years. there is.”
Paul Carroll, who was registered with Dignitas, told GMB he canceled his membership after seeing his aunt, mother and mother-in-law through to the end.
“The experience of witnessing all those deaths to the end just made me think. They didn't want to go and we didn't want them to go, so I took great comfort from those experiences. Ta.”
Fellow change campaigner Dame Prue Leith praised Dame Esther's efforts to raise her voice, saying: “Everything she has done to get our politicians to stand up and take notice. ” I was grateful.
The Great British Bake Off judge, who was unable to attend Monday's debate due to filming commitments, also said in a statement: “What we need is not too much serious debate about whether we should make this reform, but rather how. This is a more serious and constructive discussion about whether to do so.” To create the best possible laws for dying people. ”
She said she was confident that “some form of this change will come to the UK in the coming years”, and while neighboring jurisdictions are debating reforms, Westminster remains “left alone”. said.
Television presenter Jonathan Dimbleby previously said the current law was becoming “increasingly intolerable” following the death of his brother Nicholas, who had motor neurone disease (MND).
The petition that sparked Monday's debate states that “terminally ill patients who are mentally sound and near the end of their lives should not be subjected to excruciating suffering against their will.”
Labor MP Tonia Antoniazzi, a member of the petitions committee, is expected to open the debate, and Victims and Protection Minister Laura Farris is expected to respond on behalf of the government.
No voting will take place.
The issue was last voted on in the House of Commons in 2015, when it failed on second reading by a margin of 330 to 118.
But less than two years have passed since the Westminster Hall debate on assisted dying was held in July 2022.
Thirty-eight members of parliament contributed to the three-hour debate.
Opponents of the law change have expressed concern that legalizing assisted dying could put pressure on vulnerable people to take their own lives for fear of burdening others, They argue that the elderly, sick and depressed people may be particularly at risk.
Dr Gordon McDonald, chief executive of campaign group Care Not Killing, said Monday's debate was a missed opportunity to talk about improving Britain's mitigation and social care system.
“Instead of debating this dangerous and ideological policy, we should be debating how to fix Britain's broken and patchwork palliative care system so that everyone can die with dignity.” he said.
Assisted suicide is prohibited in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and carries a maximum prison term of 14 years.
In Scotland, this is not a specific criminal offense, but aiding and abetting someone's death can lead to charges of murder and other offences.
The bill, introduced in Scotland in March, is the third time Scottish parliamentarians have considered the issue, after two previous attempts to change the law failed.
A report by MPs at Westminster in February warned that the government would need to consider what it would do if laws were changed in parts of the UK, the Isle of Man and Jersey. Both are vassal states of the king and are currently under consideration. problem.
The Health and Social Care Committee did not make any recommendations for a vote on the issue, but said it was “increasingly likely” that it would be legalized in at least one jurisdiction, and the government would not be able to resolve the differences. He suggested that there was a need to “actively engage” in discussions about how to deal with this issue. within the law.
Sir Keir Starmer has said he is “committed” to allowing a vote on the legalization of assisted dying if Labor wins the general election, but Downing Street has previously He said it was up to Congress to decide whether to discuss it again.
Dr Andrew Green, deputy chair of the BMA Ethics Committee, called for the law to ensure that doctors have the option of assisted dying.
MPs will debate assisted dying today after a petition supported by Mrs Esther Rantzen attracted more than 200,000 signatures.
Commenting on the BMA's position, Dr Green told Radio 4 Today's programme: “The main requirement was that we wanted to make sure that physicians had a real choice as to whether and to what extent they wanted to participate.”
“An opt-in arrangement would be required. Providing physician-assisted death would not be part of a doctor's normal job.”
The BMA has moved from opposing assisted dying to being neutral.
Dr Green said: “As a representative body, we have a duty to represent the views of all these people, which is why we have changed to a neutral position.”
He said about 50% of members supported changing the law and 40% opposed it.
