Tom Gordon MP has put forward an amendment to the Terminally Ill Adults Bill to reduce the deadline for the Government to introduce assisted dying from four years to three. Humanists UK has welcomed the amendment.
The first draft of the Bill set the maximum time the Government could take to implement assisted dying at two years, but during the committee stage this deadline was increased to four years. No other jurisdiction in the world has taken even close to four years to implement an assisted dying bill.
If selected by the speaker, the amendment would be debated and voted on at Report Stage on 25 April.
Tom Gordon MP, who tabled the amendment, said:
‘A three-year deadline for implementation strikes a fair balance between the Government, which has pushed for delays, and Parliament, which voted for a compassionate change to assisted dying.
As the only MP on the Bill committee to oppose extending the deadline to four years, I believe terminally ill people must have a voice in this debate. Any delay risks denying thousands the choice of a dignified death, forcing them to suffer unnecessarily.’
Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of Humanists UK, said:
‘Assisted dying laws have been implemented in thirty-one jurisdictions around the world, mostly within a year and a half. Only the US state of Oregon took longer, solely because of legal challenges — and then only three years. A four-year backstop is unnecessary and risks giving succour to those who would seek to frustrate this new law.’
Notes
For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Assisted Dying Campaigner Nathan Stilwell at nathan@humanists.uk or phone 07456200033.
Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision have people and their loved ones who would be affected by this change available for the press.
If you have been affected by the current assisted dying legislation, and want to use your story to support a change in the law, please email campaigns@humanists.uk.
Humanists defend the right of each individual to live by their own personal values, and the freedom to make decisions about their own life so long as this does not result in harm to others. Humanists do not share the attitudes to death and dying held by some religious believers, in particular that the manner and time of death are for a deity to decide, and that interference in the course of nature is unacceptable. We firmly uphold the right to life but we recognise that this right carries with it the right of each individual to make their own judgement about whether their life should be prolonged in the face of pointless suffering.
We recognise that any assisted dying law must contain strong safeguards and the international evidence from countries where assisted dying is legal shows that safeguards can be effective. We also believe that the choice of assisted dying should not be considered an alternative to palliative care, but should be offered together as in many other countries.
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 130,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.