The rest of the country isn’t grateful, Claire. The HoL did their jobs and you’re circumventing the law. All to give the government a cheaper option than palliative care. And no, the country doesn’t support this bill. Only old polls conducted by Dignity in Dying (the ones who poured millions into getting this done for the government) actually suggest that.
A deeply dangerous bill that intends to remove safeguards in the coming years once it’s through the door is being forced AGAIN and refuses to ensure safeguarding.
Anyone who gives a damn about people being able to make a decision on AD without coercion being a factor, will oppose this bill.
Unfortunately, many will still back this bill because it’s the cheaper solution.
They would rather let you, your loved ones suffer to the point of asking for AD rather than fund proper palliative care. That’s already coercion. It’s also cheaper to people being on benefits. In a country that let a mass disabling virus let rip - this is a cost saving bill.
But we knew this was the agenda since the committee stage when we first heard them vote away safeguards for non terminal disabilities. No one needs AD for autism, Down’s syndrome, anorexia or diabetes. But that’s what they voted on. Any safeguards in place to get this bill through the door is smoke and mirrors to allow state sanctioned death via the back door.
It must fail. This bill is completely unsafe for all. Even those they’re hiding this appalling bill behind. They’re using these terminally ill people to get this through. They do not care what happens with them at all.
Grateful to Lauren Edwards for reintroducing the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, having been successful in the Private Members’ Bill ballot.