Terminally Ill Adults Call for Change in Assisted Dying Law

Dame Esther Rantzen has urged parliamentarians to pass a Bill that could "transform the final days of generations in the future," as a critical vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill takes place in the House of Commons on Friday. The broadcaster, who is terminally ill with cancer, has been a prominent voice in the conversation on assisted dying, alongside others like Kim Leadbeater and Jonathan Dimbleby. A group of terminally ill and bereaved people shared their stories at a press briefing on Thursday, criticizing the "nonsensical" religious argument against assisted dying that suffering must be part of life.

Key Takeaways:

• The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, proposed by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, aims to allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure, and psychiatrist.
• Dame Esther Rantzen, a terminally ill Christian preacher, has criticized the religious argument against assisted dying, stating that "suffering is part of God's plan for us" is nonsensical and that assisted dying is a choice for desperately ill adults who want a quick, pain-free death.
• Pamela Fisher, a terminally ill lay preacher, rejected the assumption that the sanctity of life requires terminally ill people to undergo a distressing and painful death against their will, arguing that assisted dying is not wrong because suffering is part of God's plan.
• Anil Douglas, whose father took his own life having suffered with multiple sclerosis, shared his story of trauma and argued that the current law leads people to make lonely and dangerous decisions, failing to protect against coercion and offer choice for dying people.
• Opponents of the Bill have concerns that it is not robust enough to protect the most vulnerable against coercion, and that others might choose assisted dying because they feel they are a burden.
• The proposed legislation aims to provide a safe and compassionate death option for terminally ill, mentally competent adults with six months or less to live, when even the best palliative care is not enough.

Statistics:

• 6 months: the time limit within which terminally ill adults in England and Wales can apply for an assisted death under the proposed legislation.
• 2 doctors: the number of doctors that must approve an assisted death application before a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure, and psychiatrist reviews it.
• 6: the number of months or less a terminally ill, mentally competent adult must have to live to be eligible for an assisted death under the proposed legislation.

Sources:

• "A terminally ill Christian preacher has criticised the 'nonsensical' religious argument against assisted dying that suffering must be part of life, as Dame Esther Rantzen urged MPs to pass a Bill she said could 'transform the final days of generations in the future'." - PA news agency
• "The Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols -- who is opposed to assisted dying -- has previously argued that the suffering of human beings is 'an intrinsic part of our human journey, a journey embraced by the eternal word of God, Christ Jesus himself'." - PA news agency
• "The proposed legislation would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure, and psychiatrist." - PA news agency.