Assisted Dying
Disability Rights UK opposes the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill currently passing through parliament.
Discussions regarding this bill have often suggested that Disabled people and terminally ill people are two unrelated groups, but that is not true. If a person is terminally ill, they are defined as Disabled under the Equality Act 2010. The nature of progressive and lifelong health conditions also means that the 16.2 million Disabled people in the UK are more likely to be, or become, terminally ill.
What’s the issue?
Our concerns with the bill
We are incredibly concerned by the risks posed by the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. The bill significantly lacks practical safeguards and doesn’t provide sufficient protection against coercion by health care staff or family members, particularly for Disabled people who may already be at greater risk of abuse.
Amendments were voted down which could have introduced additional safeguards. For example, MPs voted against restricting eligibility from people with anorexia, people who are homeless or prisoners, and from those seeking assistance to die for the benefit of others or because they feel like a burden. Another amendment voted down would have required additional time, accessible information and a supporter or independent advocate to be present for the initial conversation about assisted dying, with people who may require additional support to process information.
This bill is also a Private Members’ Bill, which means that nobody can share their views in a public consultation, and there is significantly less time for politicians to debate and scrutinise the legislation. Legalising assisted dying not only risks eroding our rights, but it also changes the foundation of the function of the NHS. It shouldn’t be rushed.
Disabled voices have also been largely excluded from the conversation so far. Throughout the committee stage and at the initial publication stage of the bill, accessible formats were not made available. A large print version of the bill was published several weeks after the original, but no other formats (e.g. Easy Read and British Sign Language) have been made available yet. Also, only one Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO) was given the opportunity to provide evidence to the committee.
Assist us to live before you assist us to die
Disabled people aren’t currently assisted to live in the UK. Our rights are violated daily, our access to essential services is denied, and we are made to feel like a burden to society.
If this bill becomes law, it will be easier in practice to access assisted dying in the UK than it will be to access adequate housing or social care. Legalising assisted dying in this context will, in practice, put us at significant risk.
Legalising assisted dying is also contrary to the purpose and principles of the NHS. Risks to coercion and systemic ableism aside, this bill would require a significant shift in NHS culture and would completely transform our relationship with healthcare professionals.
What needs to change?
Assisted dying should not be legalised via a Private Members' Bill with insufficient safeguards.
Disabled people must be assisted to live before we can safely and responsibly be assisted to die. Only when we have equal access to support and aren’t made to feel like a burden could we be provided with a real choice that isn’t influenced by discrimination and barriers to healthcare.
What are we doing?
The bill is currently making its way through Parliament, but it’s not the law yet. If we can convince MPs to vote against it, then it won’t become the law. We’ve been trying to influence politicians since the bill was introduced and provided evidence to the bill’s committee. We need your help to raise Disabled people’s concerns with as many politicians as possible. Alongside this, Disabled campaigners with the support of DDPOs are bringing a complaint to the United Nations (UN) because we believe that key aspects of how the bill is going through Parliament violates the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People (UNCRPD).
How can you help us?
Write to your MP and ask them to oppose the bill. You could also ask to meet your MP to share your concerns about what this bill will mean for you.
Look out for protests and other campaigning actions by Not Dead Yet UK and Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) and get involved with your local DPO.
Additional resources:
- Better Off Dead? - A documentary on assisted suicide, authored by actor and disability rights activist Liz Carr.
- UNCRDP Coalition Briefing on Assisted Suicide