Letter opposing UK assisted suicide bill.

People who oppose assisted suicide in the UK need to write letters to their representatives. 

Letter from Ann Farmer to UK political representatives.

I am writing to you once again regarding news reports about the proposed Private Members’ Bill submitted by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater to legalise ‘assisted dying’, aka assisted suicide. 

As a disabled person I am very concerned about this Bill, not only for myself but for vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly, sick and disabled, especially given severe pressure on the NHS, which Sir Keir Starmer has referred to as ‘broken’, as well as a recent Marie Curie report exposing significant shortcomings in palliative and end-of-life care in this country. 

The risks of legalizing assisted suicide were highlighted by the actor and disability rights campaigner Liz Carr in her recent BBC One documentary ‘Better Off Dead?’ (youtube link) which I encourage you to watch if you have not already done so. It warns of the dangers of such legislation for the disabled and poor, dangers highlighted in a recent article by Sir Stephen Timms MP.  Such warnings are based on the reality in countries that have legalized ‘assisted dying’, only to see a steady relaxation of the law; indeed, it is now clear that the allegedly strict safeguards accompanying such laws are considered necessary to calm public fears, enabling the passage of the law, which is then broadened in scope.

Furthermore, despite campaigners’ claims that ‘assisted dying’ enjoys public support, a recent opinion poll found that this issue ranked 22nd out of a list of 23 possible priorities for the new Government. 

The same poll also highlighted public concerns over the practicalities of legalizing assisted suicide, with over half of respondents revealing fears that there are too many complicating factors to make assisted suicide a practical and safe option.

Although a recent ‘Citizens’ Jury’ supported legalising assisted suicide, doubts were cast on the impartiality of the Jury’s findings after revelations that Danielle Hamm, the Director of the organisation commissioning the project, was previously the head of ‘Compassion in Dying’, sister charity to assisted suicide pressure group Dignity in Dying. In addition, the project was funded by a charity that had previously given a significant grant “towards work on legalising assisted dying”, while a majority of Jury members seem to have held settled views in support of legalising euthanasia as well as assisted suicide, with more members also favouring ‘assisted dying’ for under-18s and the non-terminally ill.

Clearly, Citizens’ Juries do not reliably reflect public opinion.  In contrast, whenever Parliament has studied these issues in depth, objectively considering the risks, it has decisively rejected legalization, as with the last such Bill in 2015, when more Labour MPs and more Conservative MPs voted against legalization than in favour, while only three Liberal Democrat MPs supported it.

I would be grateful for your reassurance that you will oppose rushing through such dangerous and complex legislation into law and will do whatever you can to ensure Parliament focuses instead on measures to provide authentic end-of-life care to all who need it.

Thank you for your consideration and for all your efforts, and I look forward to receiving your response.

Yours sincerely, 

Ann Farmer
Woodford Green
Essex IG8 7NQ.