New research from the highly respected British Social Attitudes Survey confirms that public support for assisted dying remains as high ever, with 79% of Britons in favour of allowing doctors to assist eligible terminally ill people to die if they request it.
The findings, published by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), show that public opinion on this issue has remained stable since the last time it was measured through the Survey in 2016, when 78% were recorded as being in favour.
Nathan Stilwell, Assisted Dying Campaigner at Humanists UK, said:
‘Given nearly four fifths of the public in support, it’s clear that a compassionate assisted dying law commands more support than virtually every other issue in British politics.
‘This latest research confirms what we already know: the public overwhelmingly supports giving dying people the right to choice and dignity at the end of life.
‘With the Assisted Dying Bill now before Parliament, MPs should listen to their constituents and act. Our laws should reflect compassion and autonomy, not force people to suffer needlessly.’
In detail
The latest British Social Attitudes Survey also highlights just how few Britons believe doctors should be outright prohibited from assisting eligible patients to die. Just 9% say doctors should ‘definitely not’ be allowed, and only 8% say they ‘probably not’ should be.
Kim Leadbeater MP’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would apply in England and Wales, passed its historic second reading vote in November and is currently going through its committee stage in the House of Commons.
The law as it stands forces many terminally ill people to suffer against their wishes or seek often expensive options abroad. A new, compassionate law would allow adults of sound mind, with a terminal to have the choice of an assisted death – subject to strict safeguards, clear eligibility criteria, and protections against coercion.
While the Bill in the UK Parliament only applies to England and Wales, similar legislation is also being debated in the Scottish Parliament. Similar legislation in the Isle of Man is under final consideration from the upper house of the legislature. Recently, a law to establish assisted dying in the British crown dependency of Jersey was preliminarily approved in May 2024, but may not be implemented until 2027 or later.
Everyone should have freedom of choice when it comes to their one life. Humanists UK has long campaigned for a compassionate assisted dying law so that people of sound mind who make a fixed and uncoerced decision to end their lives can have a say over the manner and timing of their death.
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.