New extensive research from the Nuffield Trust shows that in jurisdictions where assisted dying is legal, ‘people can find the process reassuring and that it can give them a sense of control, even if they do not go on to have an assisted death.’
Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision welcome this extensive independent research, which adds to the growing body of evidence that suggests that assisted dying gives a compassionate choice to the terminally ill.
The research found:
- ‘Loss of ability to engage in meaningful activity and loss of autonomy are the most commonly reported reasons why people access assisted dying services.’
- ‘The evidence that was available suggested that people can find the process reassuring and that it can give them a sense of control, even if they do not go on to have an assisted death.’
- ‘Compared with other end-of-life experiences, carers involved in situations of hastened death less commonly report burden or physical exhaustion.’
The report also came with a warning to parliamentarians not to make the assisted dying process too difficult and prescriptive, and that legislation should aim to remove barriers to access. The report says: ‘A review of the assisted dying legislation in New Zealand found the level of operational prescription in its law to be unnecessary in primary legislation, and that it could have unintended impacts on how assisted dying is provided over time.’
Carmen Sumadiwiria, Director of My Death, My Decision, said:
‘We can take confidence from this report that many countries like ours have already introduced safe and workable assisted dying systems. We’re not starting from scratch, we can learn directly from our allies and neighbours. Victoria, Australia implemented its law in 18 months, and New Zealand did so in just 13 months during Covid. By contrast, our Government is allowing up to four years, and that is simply too long.
‘Put yourself in the shoes of a terminally ill person: knowing you can take control if your suffering becomes too much is worth every bit of the time and cost it takes to get this right. No one should be forced to die a painful, drawn-out death. The law must change.’
Richy Thompson, Director of Public Affairs and Policy at Humanists UK, said:
‘Today’s extensive Nuffield Trust research shows that where assisted dying is legal, people find the process reassuring and it can give them a sense of control, even if they never go on to have an assisted death. It adds to the growing evidence that assisted dying offers a compassionate choice for terminally ill people.
We urge Parliament to heed the report’s warning: don’t make the system so complex and prescriptive that it creates barriers to access. The UK can learn from international experience. With clear safeguards and practical implementation, we can give dying people real choice and control when they need it most.’
Assisted dying: not ‘straightforward’?
Much of the media attention around the report has focused on a quote from Nuffield that says ‘With assisted dying remaining a contested issue, and our health and care systems struggling under immense pressure, implementing a new service won’t be straightforward.’ The quote goes on to say ‘However, other countries provide valuable lessons which can help policy makers to make good choices as the Bills legalising assisted dying continue their parliamentary journeys.’ Some media appear to have taken the ‘won’t be straightforward’ part in isolation and made it sound like it might be too hard for us to bother with.
The report recognises that the NHS is already stretched and under pressure, and there needs to be sufficient time and money to implement assisted dying. But it also shows that so many countries similar to ours have implemented safe systems without substantial pressure on their healthcare systems.
The economic costs of implementing assisted dying will be tiny compared to the overall NHS budget. Regardless, the decision on whether to change the law should not be about economics, but on whether assisted dying is the right approach in principle.
Assisted dying laws do need to have enough time to be implemented. But every other country around the world that already has a law, has been able to implement it within 19 months. The only exception is Oregon, which took three years due to court challenges. The England and Wales Bill currently allows up to four years, with that having been raised from two during the Bill’s passage through the Commons. This seems to us to be too long. If it takes four years, people who need assisted deaths will suffer painfully while waiting for the Bill to come into force.
Notes
For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Assisted Dying Campaigner Nathan Stilwell at nathan@humanists.uk
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 150,000 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.
My Death, My Decision is a grassroots campaign group that wants the law in England and Wales to allow mentally competent adults who are terminally ill or intolerably suffering from an incurable condition the option of a legal, safe, and compassionate assisted death. With the support of over 3,000 members and supporters, we advocate for an evidence-based law that would balance individual choice alongside robust safeguards and finally give the people of England and Wales choice at the end of their lives.
Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision are both members of the Assisted Dying Coalition, along with Friends at the End, Humanist Society Scotland, and End of Life Choices Jersey.