Liberal Democrat Party Conference renews call for an Assisted Dying law
“With a Private Members Bill on assisted dying due to tabled next year in the House of Lords this motion marks another important development in the campaign for a change in the law.”
Today the Liberal Democrat Party Conference passed a motion, proposed by Chris Davies MEP, which reaffirms their support for a change in the law on assisted dying.
The Liberal Democrats pledged in their 2004 spring conference to introduce legislation that would legalise assisted dying for patients with a terminal or severe, incurable and progressive physical illness. The new motion calls for parliamentary time to be allotted to a Private Members Bill when it is tabled.
Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying said:
“With a Private Members Bill on assisted dying due to tabled next year in the House of Lords this motion marks another important development in the campaign for a change in the law. While the motion goes beyond the remit of Dignity in Dying’s campaign to make legal the option of assisted dying for terminally ill adults only, we welcome the debate and the Liberal Democrats commitment to addressing a key issue of our time.
“The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Choice at the End of Life, in partnership with Dignity in Dying, has published a draft assisted dying Bill for consultation. By consulting the public, stakeholders and politicians, the consultation aims to create a robust Bill that provides the choice of an assisted death to terminally ill mentally competent adults, whilst providing better protection against abuse than the current law.
“The consultation closes in November, and once the APPG has reported, in partnership with Dignity in Dying, former Secretary for State for Justice Lord Falconer QC has committed to tabling an assisted dying Bill as a Private Members Bill in the House of Lords.
“We hope the passing of this motion will help ensure that there is sufficient parliamentary time to debate the Bill, which if passed will help end unnecessary suffering at the end of life.”
Ends.
About Dignity in Dying
This consultation is being run by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Choice at the End of Life in partnership with Dignity in Dying.
The APPG on Choice at the End of Life exists to promote greater patient choice at the end of life, particularly over where, when and how one dies. The group believes that mentally competent adults should have the right to refuse treatment, and provided sufficient legal safeguards are in place, the right to an assisted death. Dignity in Dying is a campaigning organisation which supports the aims of the APPG and provides the secretariat to the group.
The APPG and Dignity in Dying will welcome responses from stakeholders, experts, MPs and the general public. Responses can be submitted at www.appg-endoflifechoice.org.uk
About the Consultation on a draft assisted dying Bill
This consultation is being run by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Choice at the End of Life in partnership with Dignity in Dying.
The APPG on Choice at the End of Life exists to promote greater patient choice at the end of life, particularly over where, when and how one dies. The group believes that mentally competent adults should have the right to refuse treatment, and provided sufficient legal safeguards are in place, the right to an assisted death. Dignity in Dying is a campaigning organisation which supports the aims of the APPG and provides the secretariat to the group.
The APPG and Dignity in Dying will welcome responses from stakeholders, experts, MPs and the general public. Responses can be submitted at www.appg-endoflifechoice.org.uk
Text of the motion
Conference notes that:
a) A significant minority of people who suffer unendurably from medical conditions that offer no hope of recovery are physically unable to end their lives at a time of their own choosing without assistance.
b) It is over 50 years since the passage of the 1961 Suicide Act established the current legislative framework, but that scores of British citizens now travel to Switzerland each year to seek medical assistance to die.
c) Legislation making provision for medically assisted dying, and incorporating many safeguards to prevent misuse, was enacted in Belgium and the Netherlands a decade ago and continues to enjoy very strong public support in those countries.
d) There is continuing debate on the subject in the United Kingdom, and the evidence of successive opinion polls demonstrates very strong public support for similar legislation here.
Conference reaffirms the policy it adopted in the conference motion Medically Assisted Dying in 2004 in support of legislation providing for medical assistance to die to be available to patients in particular circumstances, subject to rigorous safeguards to prevent abuse. Conference also recognises the importance of high quality palliative care being available to all who may need it, and of greater support for carers.
Conference calls for Liberal Democrat ministers:
1. To press for the introduction of a government bill on the subject.
2. In the event of a Bill being introduced through Private Members’ procedures, to press for time to be made available in the House of Commons to enable it to be fully considered.
Conference believes that any such legislative proposal should be determined by way of a free vote in order to respect the freedom of conscience of Parliamentarians.
Media Contacts:
For all Dignity in Dying media enquiries or questions ahead of the debate please contact Jo Cartwright on 020 7479 7737 / 07725433025 or at jo.cartwright@dignityindying.org.uk.