Cumbria’s MPs have shared how they plan to vote on a proposed law to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would make assisted dying legal in both England and Wales for those over the age of 18 who are terminally ill.
MPs across the country are due to debate and cast an initial vote on the bill on November 29 – but further debates and votes would also be required for the bill to officially become law.
The proposed bill would allow terminally ill people, subject to safeguards and protections, to request and be provided with assistance to end their own life.
While doctors would be able to prepare a substance to enable a terminally ill person to end their life – it would be illegal for them or anyone else to directly administer it to the individual.
Instead, the terminally ill person would have to take the substance and make the final decision to end their life on their own.
Under the bill, several requirements would also need to be met for a person to end their life. These include:
- Having the mental capacity to make a decision to end their own life
- Being aged 18 or over at the time the person makes a first declaration on their wish to die
- Be a resident in England and Wales and has lived there for at least 12 months
- Be registered with a GP in England or Wales
- Having a clear, settled and informed wish to end their own life that has been made voluntarily and has not been coerced or pressured by any other person into making it. Any individuals found guilty of pressuring an individual or assisting them to end their life would face up to 14 years in prison.
- Be expected to die from a progressive illness, disease or medical condition which cannot be reversed by treatment within six months
The individual must also make two separate and formal declarations about their wish to die and a High Court judge would also have to give the individual court approval to ensure all eligibility criteria and safeguarding measures had been met.
MPs will be able to free vote on the proposed bill on November 29 – which means they do not have to follow any party line.
We spoke with Cumbria’s MPs to get their views on the controversial bill and ask how they plan to vote next week.
Whitehaven and Workington MP – Josh MacAlister
“I’ve received nearly 300 e-mails and letters about this, more than on almost any other issue. It’s clearly a topic which provokes strong feelings on both sides.
“In making my decision, I have read all of these messages, which are split evenly for and against, heard the views shared with me in the public meeting I held on the topic, consulted with experts, and met with my colleague Kim Leadbetter, who is bringing the bill forward.
“I was clear from the start that I was minded to support the bill, but I wanted to hear all the arguments and to see the safeguards the bill would put in place to address legitimate concerns.
“Having heard all the arguments for and against, I have been particularly moved by the stories I heard from local people of loved ones forced to suffer unimaginable pain at the end of their lives.
“And from those with terminal illnesses now facing death who want to die on their own terms. They just want to make the choice themselves and ultimately, for me, it comes down to the right to have that personal choice.
“Having studied the bill since it was published I am reassured that the safeguards in the bill do as much as is possible to prevent coercion.
“The requirement to make two statements, have two independent doctors’ assessments and sign off from a High Court judge, with waiting periods in between each step, plus the harsh criminal penalties for those found to have coerced someone into making the choice, represent the strongest possible safeguards against abuse of the system.
“I will therefore be supporting the bill on November 29 and in its subsequent passage through Parliament if it makes it past that stage.
“I appreciate that not everyone will agree with me, but I hope you are assured that I come to this decision after careful consideration and reflection.”
Westmorland and Lonsdale MP – Tim Farron
“I recognise that support for legalised assisted dying comes from a sense of wanting to be compassionate to those who are gravely ill. However, I am strongly opposed because the evidence from countries that have already legalised assisted dying shows that it is impossible to build safeguards to protect those who would not wish to die.
“There are examples of people being coerced, or applying self-coercion (thinking they are a burden and choosing to die for the sake of others) – it absolutely cannot be acceptable to pass a law that leads to people dying against their will.
“There is also strong evidence that those countries with assisted dying spend relatively less on palliative care and pain relief than countries like ours that don’t.
“We should be focussing our resources on helping people to die well and in comfort, not legislating to end their lives.
“This particular bill is especially worrying because it will receive very little scrutiny and could end up becoming law with even fewer safeguards than those which exist in other countries.
“Many who support the principle of assisted dying are opposed to this bill for that reason.
“All the same, I do strongly empathise with those who propose this bill for reasons of compassion, and understand where they are coming from.
“Nevertheless, I do think this bill is a serious threat to vulnerable people throughout our society and so I will oppose it.”
Penrith and Solway MP – Markus Campbell-Savours
“I came in here open minded about some form of assisted dying. I have got red lines around protecting vulnerable people which need to be met and I am not yet convinced will be met by this new bill.
“However, I am going to vote for it at this reading in order to allow it to go through to the next stages.
“The public probably need to be a bit more aware that some of the language used is like the vote next week will put it into legislation, but people need to know this isn’t actually the case.
“It allows it to enter the process of being debated across the house of commons, Lords and everywhere. So I will be voting for that to happen.
“I think we owe it to the people who are in pain and want to see the rules change, to have a proper debate.
“But in terms of voting for it in later stages, I’m currently skeptical, which is disappointing, because I really hoped there would be some way for us to introduce rules that protect vulnerable people.”
Barrow and Furness MP – Michelle Scrogham
“It will not surprise you that I have been contacted by a large number of people with a range of views about this issue and I am taking time to listen carefully to all sides of the debate.
“I recognise that this is a complex and important issue – literally a matter of life and death. I want to thank people for taking the time to share their views with me.
“Whilst I am not opposed to reform in principle, I strongly feel that any changes to the law would need to include serious and proper safeguards. I think we also need to carefully consider the implications for our NHS which is already under considerable strain after years of underfunding and how we look at our palliative care provision.
“On such a fundamental issue I think any reforms do also need to recognise the concerns that many people have so that we can try to achieve the widest possible consensus moving forward.
“Having now had a little time to look at the details of the Bill I remain to be convinced that these concerns have been fully met and perhaps now is not the right time to take forward reforms that could have such a big impact on health and care services.
“However, I will continue to look carefully at the measures included and will be listening carefully to the case being made on both sides throughout this process. I remain open minded and welcome all input to this debate.”
Carlisle MP – Julie Minns
“Since the announcement that assisted dying legislation will be coming before Parliament, I have spent a great deal of time reading around the subject, and reading the hundreds of emails from constituents.
“Constituents have expressed a wide range of views, from those who are strongly for, those who are against, and those who ask only that I vote with clear eyes and a strong heart.
“I have also listened.
“I have listened to the life stories of countless constituents, whose experiences and traumas are heartbreaking and at times uplifting.
“I’ve listened to mothers, brothers, sisters, fathers, and those who are themselves terminally ill.
“Some wish to alleviate the suffering of their loved ones, or themselves, or to prevent it happening to anyone else, while others fear they will be pressured to die, or lose loved ones prematurely to a state-run programme.
“I recently chaired a discussion for local residents on the topic of assisted dying in Carlisle, at Yewdale Community Centre.
“We heard firsthand how individual experiences can form strong convictions, both for and against assisted dying, and I’d like to especially thank the people who shared their personal stories.
“I also have my own personal experience of loved ones who have survived a suicide attempt, and of those who died by suicide, as well as my experience of living with and losing those closest to me to slow, painful, degenerative conditions.
“This was never going to be an easy decision. I am instinctively pro-choice. But I have concluded that I cannot support the Bill for three key reasons:
- The reservations expressed by many disabled people and disability organisations.
- To vote in favour is, in effect, a vote to fund one – and only one – form of death. Everyone should have the right to a good death. This Bill only deals with one.
- There is nothing definitive about a six-month terminal prognosis, yet the Bill will require this – nor do I believe there can be watertight safeguards against coercion.
“This has not been an easy decision, but I hope – whatever the outcome of the vote – it is respected for being taken after detailed consideration. “
If you are feeling distressed or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans confidentially on 116 123. You can also email at jo@samaritans.org.
