UK should look to Canada for deeper insight

Michael Coren

Ihave had the responsibility and privilege to meet two people who decided to end their own lives. One, a middleaged man with terminal cancer, had been given perhaps another month to live, and the pain and suffering were just becoming too much for him.

The other, an elderly woman, had numerous medical challenges, was again close to death and although not in too much pain wanted to die, in her words, “surrounded by my family, those I love, and in my own time – not alone and frightened and in the middle of the night”.

I was allowed to meet these people because I’m an Anglican priest. They were allowed to make the decision because they live in Canada, where Medical Assistance in Dying (Maid) was introduced in 2016. It is deeply relevant because Sir Keir Starmer has told Dame Esther Rantzen (inset), a campaigner for assisted dying, that if the Labour Party wins the next election he would allow a vote on the issue, adding that he is “personally in favour of changing the law”.

The Labour leader said: “I think we need to make time. We will make the commitment. Esther, I can give you that commitment right now.”

A debate and a vote is not only long overdue, but inevitable. However, it has to take place in a context of an understanding of the real issues, and the Canadian example is well worth considering.

More than 45,000 people have now died through Maid, which is a figure never imagined by those who initially campaigned for its introduction.

Also, and deeply concerning, is the fact that mental health is now under consideration as a reason for assisted death if it constitutes a “grievous and irremediable medical condition”.

That is an extremely vague statement and has caused enormous worry, especially as Canada’s mental health system is terribly underfunded, as of course it is in Britain.

This is one of the most troubling aspects of the entire discussion.

Is assisted dying to be allowed, as I think it should be, in those rare cases where a patient is terminally ill, is in suffering and pain that can’t be properly controlled (more common than we think), and wants to leave in dignity and peace, or will it be exploited to save money because of the expense of end-of-life care, especially with an ageing population? If it’s the latter, it’s a terrifying proposition.

But while those who are ideologically opposed to any form of assisted dying are quick to point out the dangers of any legal change, there’s also a compelling and humane case to listen to the realities of all this.

Like it or not, these are times when people have the need, and should have the right, to make their own decision to die.

But there’s a middle way – with all of the potentially vulnerable groups listened to, an ironclad supervision of what is allowed, caring and qualified people consulted at every level of the process and assisted dying never to occur due to under-funding of healthcare or lack of support.

It is too late to pretend that this issue can simply be ignored.

Michael Coren is an Anglican priest and author. His latest book ‘The Rebel Christ’ is out now (Canterbury Press, £12.99)