The last best chance to stop assisted suicide Bill is here

We are drawing close to crucial debates and votes on Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

The aim of the legislation is to give terminally ill adults over 18 in England the right to an assisted suicide if their prognosis is six months or less to live. If the Bill passes, members of the Welsh Parliament will then vote on whether to apply the same law in Wales.

There’s been considerable debate in Westminster about this Bill and the process so far. But what we do know for certain is that the Third Reading is the best chance to stop this Bill before it enters the notoriously pro-assisted suicide House of Lords. There is still a chance, however slim, that the legislation can be stopped. But if it makes it to the second house, it is far more likely to pass and receive royal assent.

My plea, therefore, to all of us is to do what we can, both by praying privately, corporately and by taking political action and contacting our MPs. This is the moment to follow up with MPs, even if they have already said they will vote for the Bill. Here are some of the arguments that could persuade them.

Arguments against

1. Drop in support
   You can point out that 85% of those who initially support assisted suicide drop their support by varying degrees when presented with new information about it.
2. Impact on palliative care
   You can also point out that a staggering 43% of palliative care doctors have said they will quit if assisted suicide becomes legal.
3. Overseas evidence
   There is also a wealth of evidence from overseas to employ. For example, it took a mere five years for Canada to expand eligibility from deaths that are ‘reasonably foreseeable’ to people with serious and incurable illnesses. And what about the around half of assisted suicide victims in Oregon who cited feeling a burden as a reason for their decision?
   
   Surely legalising assisted suicide represents a societal failure to provide a suitable alternative. As Hospice UK has said, “it would be a profound moral and practical failure for any person in the UK to request an assisted death in the future because of a real or imagined fear they would not be able to access pain relief or other essential care.” This will inevitably happen.
4. Medical complications
   All too often assisted suicide advocates are not honest about the complications that can also arise. Evidence from Oregon, where assisted suicide has been legal for decades shows us that in close to one in ten cases, there are complications with the assisted suicide. The longest recorded period between lethal drugs being ingested and death was a horrendous 5.7 days.
5. Possibility of financial abuse
   You could also point out that the government’s own impact assessment says assisted suicide will save the NHS money. As Pathfinders Neuromuscular Alliance said, “we have documented many examples where people have experienced direct discrimination from healthcare professionals including one individual who was told by their GP 'have you any idea how much you cost the NHS?'”

The reasons outlined above show us what assisted suicide would mean in practice.

You could add in the powerful Christian reasons for resisting this law change. God’s better story involves walking alongside people in suffering and affirming that it is good they exist.

These are the final weeks to stop this latest attempt to cross the Rubicon and legalise assisted suicide. I urge you to do all you can while you can and pray to the God of life for His mercy and power to change the hearts of enough MPs.

But what we do know for certain is that the Third Reading is the best chance to stop this Bill before it enters the notoriously pro-assisted suicide House of Lords. There is still a chance, however slim, that the legislation can be stopped. But if it makes it to the second house, it is far more likely to pass and receive royal assent.