Thank you to the constituents who have recently contacted me about assisted dying. I deeply appreciate your reflections, and I know how important this issue is to many people whose opinions are formed through various personal experiences, values and beliefs.
I believe that this is an area where it is entirely possible for people to hold widely different but defensible opinions. This is why the substance of the law on assisted dying is not a matter of party politics but of conscience.
Today I voted against the Bill as I have concerns about the potential consequences of the legislation, namely the impact it could have on the elderly, people living with disabilities, families, and health workers. I have apprehensions about the emotional and moral burdens that could be placed on vulnerable people and the medical staff tasked with carrying out such decisions.
Palliative care plays a vital role in supporting people through the final stages of life with dignity and comfort; it is crucial that we continue to invest in and improve these services so that everyone can receive the highest level of care.
Furthermore, through my previous work with the Health and Social Care Committee’s inquiry into assisted dying, I heard from representatives and doctors from a range of countries which have legalised. During the inquiry, I was increasingly concerned about the potential for ‘legislative creep’. Of the countries the Committee looked at, none have been able to prevent legislation from reaching beyond its original remits. I am concerned that if the practice were legalised in the UK, it may gradually expand to include broader categories of individuals or circumstances, as has been done in other countries.
For these reasons, I did not vote in favour of the Bill today. It is important we continue to listen carefully and respectfully to all aspects of this debate as this Bill is scrutinised further in the next stages in Parliament.
