Assisted dying report a ‘wasted opportunity’
DAME Esther Rantzen led a chorus of dismay yesterday after a much-anticipated report by MPs into assisted dying failed to deliver any clear- cut findings or proposals.
The inquiry by the Commons health and social care committee was set up to provide ‘a basis for discussion’ on whether the law should be changed.
But the committee stopped short of calling for a Commons debate, which would have allowed
‘Profoundly disappointed’
MPs to thrash out their differences on existing legislation before holding a vote.
It instead recommended that the Government should consider how to respond if moves are made to bring assisted dying into law in parts of the UK. Although illegal here, multiple crown dependencies – including Jersey and the Isle of Man – have taken steps towards legalising it.
The committee did urge the Government to ensure universal access to palliative care for the terminally ill, after hearing evidence of ‘ patchy’ end- of- life provision. Dame Esther, who has stage four lung cancer and has signed up to the Dignitas assisting dying clinic in Switzerland, called the report ‘profoundly disappointing’.
She said: ‘It is time this country caught up with the best practices abroad and the only way to achieve that is for a proper debate in Parliament with a free vote.
‘I am profoundly disappointed that this report – which many of us have been waiting for – does not come up with that recommendation. In many ways it was a wasted opportunity.’
Dame Esther’s remarks were echoed by campaigners for a change to the law. Sarah Wootton of Dignity in Dying, said: ‘Assisted dying will be a key issue for candidates going into the General Election. If MPs take just one thing from the mountains of evidence heard in this inquiry, it’s that the current law on assisted dying is unsafe and woefully inadequate.’
Under the law in England, Wales and Northern Ireland assisting suicide is punishable with up to 14 years in prison.
Campaigners opposed to relaxing the law also criticised the MPs’ report. Dr Gordon Macdonald of Care Not Killing, said: ‘MPs could have decided to firmly close the door on assisted suicide and euthanasia. They failed.’
The inquiry has received more than 68,000 responses from the public, with more than 380 pieces of written evidence submitted.
The committee said: ‘The UK Government must consider how to respond to another jurisdiction in the UK, or the Crown Dependencies, legislating to allow Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide. It added: ‘The Government must ensure universal coverage of palliative and end- of- life services, including hospice care at home.