How to email your MP on assisted dying
Sending an email to your MP about assisted dying is one of the most important things you can do to help change the law
Many MPs’ minds have changed after hearing personal stories from supporters of assisted dying, in particular from those who have witnessed suffering under the current law.
MPs receive lots of correspondence from constituents, so it’s important that you make your email personal. They are more likely to give a considered, open and thoughtful response to a personalised, passionate email. So we encourage you to write in your own words about what the choice of assisted dying would mean to you.
Tips and ideas
You may find the following points useful to include in your email. Remember, you don’t need to be an expert and you don’t need to cover all these points, just choose the ones that feel right for you:
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- Your personal views on assisted dying and why law change matters to you. If you have any personal experience of witnessing suffering under the current law, an assisted death overseas, or you would like the choice of an assisted death yourself, do share this with your MP, if you feel able to.
- Our position – be clear that Dignity in Dying is calling for an assisted dying law for terminally ill, mentally competent adults who are in their final months of life.
- Banning assisted dying is unjust, unfair and unregulated, as detailed in Dignity in Dying’s latest report, Time for Choice. Doing nothing is simply not an option.
– Unjust: Up to 650 terminally ill people a year take their own lives each year in this country, with many more attempts
– Unfair: 17 people a day will suffer as they die in the UK, even with the very best end of life care.
– Unregulated: At least 632 Brits have had assisted deaths in Switzerland, which is around 1 person per week. The cost of an assisted death abroad has increased by 50% to £15,000 on average, which is out of reach of many - Over 250 million people worldwide have access to some form of assisted dying, in more than 24 jurisdictions including Australia, New Zealand and America. No country that has introduced assisted dying has ever repealed its law.
- Law change is coming soon to the British Isles. Scotland, Jersey and the Isle of Man are all on the cusp of legislating for choice at the end of life. Most recently, an assisted dying bill passed a vote at second reading in the Isle of Man. France is also drafting legislation and Ireland has a special committee examining the issue.
- Public support for assisted dying is consistently high (84%) from all demographics of society, across all regions and voting intentions.
- Ask your MP about their views on assisted dying. Do they support a change in the law? Has their view changed recently? What would it take for them to support an assisted dying bill?
Remember to always be polite when contacting your MP – your email could be the start of an important conversation and opportunity to build a relationship with your MP. Don’t forget to include your name and address in your email, as they will only reply to people in their constituency. And please do let us know how you get on.
Find your MP’s email address
You can easily find your MP’s email address with a quick search for your postcard on Parliament’s website.
When you see your MP’s name, click on it and you will find their email address listed with the contacts details for their Parliamentary office.
Contact us
To get in touch please send an email to Fran Hall, activism@dignityindying.org.uk