One Brit travels to Switzerland for an assisted death every week, new figures reveal

• New stats come as date for New Zealand’s assisted dying referendum, a world first, is set for 19 September 2020

• Justice Secretary has announced he is “actively considering” a call for evidence on the UK’s current law on assisted dying, following a Westminster Hall debate last week

New figures published today (Wednesday 29 January 2020) reveal that one British person travels to Switzerland for an assisted death at least every seven days, up from one every eight days in recent years. Stats released by Dignitas, the Swiss assisted dying organisation, today reveal that forty-two Brits were assisted to die there in 2019, up from 24 in 2018. Life Circle, another Swiss organisation, revealed in correspondence with Dignity in Dying that 11 Brits were assisted to die there in 2019, down from 19 in 2018. Note that these figures do not include other Swiss organisations such as Exit International, which do not make their figures publicly available.

Overseas, a date has been set in New Zealand for the world’s first public vote on assisted dying legislation, after a bill passed Third Reading in November 2019. The referendum will take place on 19 September 2020. Western Australia is due to implement an assisted dying law in the coming months, after Victoria became the first Australian state to do so in June 2019. These jurisdictions join nine American states, plus the District of Columbia, which have also enacted assisted dying laws.

These developments come days after MPs discussed assisted dying at a Westminster Hall debate on Thursday 23rd January, during which a majority of speakers backed an inquiry into the functioning and impact of current legislation. The Justice Secretary, Robert Buckland, announced on Sunday 26th January that he will “actively consider” a call for evidence on the matter, following calls from across society.

Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying, said:

“These latest figures from Switzerland show that banning assisted dying does nothing but drive the practice overseas, thereby forcing terminally ill people and their families to shoulder the cost and risk prosecution in the process. For those who cannot afford the £10k price tag, many are forced to take matters into their own hands, with hundreds of terminally ill people ending their lives in the UK every year. Others without the strength or means to act are forced to suffer unbearably against their wishes in their final weeks and days. Meanwhile, parliamentarians around the world, most recently in New Zealand, are concluding that it is perfectly possible to craft assisted dying legislation that is both compassionate and safe.

“It’s time for the UK to scrutinise our backward laws, not dying people and their loved ones. The Justice Secretary should be commended for considering a call for evidence on the functioning and impact of this legislation, following campaigning by families who have been criminalised under the current law and by Dignity in Dying, lobbying from Police and Crime Commissioners across the country, and support from MPs from all parties, most recently at a Westminster Hall debate on Thursday. The resounding message is that the current law simply does not work and requires urgent review.”

***ENDS***

For more information, photos, and interview requests, please contact Ellie Ball, Media & Campaigns Manager at Dignity in Dying on 0207 479 7732 / 07725 433 025 or ellie.ball@dignityindying.org.uk

Notes to Editor:

Assisted dying proposals in the British Isles and Crown Dependencies

A Westminster Hall debate on assisted dying took place on 23 January 2020. The functioning and impact of the current law was debated at a backbench business committee debate in July 2019. Proposals for assisted dying legislation were last debated in the Commons in September 2015.

The Isle of Man’s Parliament, Tynwald, debated assisted dying at its January sitting on 22 January 2020. It last debated legislation in 2015.

Jersey’s Council of Ministers announced in 2019 that it would undertake detailed research into the views of residents, overseas developments and potential legislation.

The Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands voted in favour of two motions on assisted dying in July 2018 (that terminally ill residents should have the right to die at a time and place of their choosing, and that should legislation be introduced in the UK, the Falkland Islands would consider adopting it).

The States of Guernsey last debated assisted dying proposals in May 2018.

The House of Commons last debated an assisted dying bill in September 2015.

International developments

Assisted dying as an option for terminally ill, mentally competent adults in their final months of life is legal in ten US jurisdictions: Oregon (1997), Washington, Vermont, Montana, the District of Columbia, California, Colorado, Hawaii, New Jersey and Maine (June 2019).

Victoria became the first Australian state to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill people in June 2019. Western Australia voted to legalise a similar bill in December 2019.

New Zealand will put an End of Life Choice Bill to a public referendum in 2020 after the legislation passed third reading in November 2019.

Canada legalised medical aid in dying (MAID) in June 2016. As a result of the Canadian Supreme Court’s judgment in Carter v Canada in February 2015, the Canadian government introduced assisted dying legislation in June 2016.

Healthcare professionals

The Royal College of GPs is set to announce the results of a membership survey on assisted dying in February 2020.

The British Medical Association is due to launch its first ever membership survey on assisted dying in February 2020.

Last year, the Royal College of Physicians dropped its longstanding opposition to assisted dying in favour of neutrality following a member survey.

About Dignity in Dying

Dignity in Dying campaigns for greater choice, control and access to services at the end of life. It campaigns within the law to change the law, to allow assisted dying as an option for terminally ill, mentally competent adults with six months or less to live – something supported by 84% of the public (Populus, 2019).

Dignity in Dying does not provide practical assistance or advice in ending life, nor does it provide enquirers with the contact details of organisations who do so.