David Vance SubstackRead More
One of the most troubling developments in the UK is the introduction of death panels to decide who can live and who can die. This is all part of the “Assisted Suicide” (AS) Bill. It’s basically a copy paste of Canadian Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) for Brits, with the proponents pretending that it will be much more rigorous and safe. But the way in which is is being steered through Parliament suggests an ideological obsession to ensure people can kill themselves.
Yesterday morning, the Leadbeater Bill committee voted to let Clause 1 go through largely unamended – having rejected all safeguards to protect the mentally ill, disabled people, those influenced or encouraged by others or those seeking assisted suicide to save their family money.
MPs had been told at the second reading that the committee would improve and strengthen the bill.
Later one amendment was accepted by the sponsor and the Government. This excludes ‘medical conditions’ from the clause specifying what you can get AS for, leaving only ‘illness or disease’. They accepted that ‘medical conditions’ effectively included everyone who is frail – i.e. most people towards the end of their life – and some disabled people. This redrafting closed one gaping loophole.
But the committee declined to close others – rejecting amendments to stop people receiving Assisted Suicide (AS) in consequence of a disability or mental illness, or if they simply stop eating and drinking, or if they have an illness that can be stabilised or managed by treatment. They refused to strengthen the 6 month prognosis rule from ‘reasonably expected’ to ‘reasonably certain’ – important because prognosis is so hit-and-miss – or to limit AS to a specific list of diseases. Worst of all, they refused an amendment that would require a patient to see a palliative care doctor so they can discuss alternatives to AS with an expert.
The reason for this is because this Bill has a very dark purpose – it is marinated in the desire to end human life and Panels will preside over every case.
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