Salford MP Rebecca Long Bailey has shared that “people deserve dignity in dying” as she will vote against the ‘assisted dying’ bill.
The Salford MP has expressed her views on social media ahead of the vote in Parliament today (November 29) for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
The Bill, if passed would make it legal for over-18s who are terminally ill to be given assistance to end their own life.
However, those who may seek ‘assisted dying’ if the Bill is passed will still have to go through many requirements to do so.
These include being expected to die within six months, and two independent doctors must be satisfied the person is eligible.
As well as appearing in front of a High Court judge, who must hear from at least one of the doctors and can also question the dying person, or anyone else they consider appropriate.
Today (November 29) Rebecca Long Bailey shared on X that she will be voting against the bill.
She said: “I cannot imagine the heartbreak faced by a person suffering terrible pain and the suffering of their loved ones when seeing them facing a terminal illness that causes unimaginable suffering and destroys any shed of dignity.
“I can completely understand why many in such situations would wish to have the right to choose how and why they pass on but I do not believe that this Bill is the answer to this pain and suffering.”
The Salford MP also continued by saying that she worries that there is a risk that the bill may change societies stance on human life – especially how people view those who are terminally ill, elderly, disabled or otherwise vulnerable.
Today I will be voting against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. This is why👇 pic.twitter.com/Bg6VJwGac1
— Rebecca Long-Bailey (@RLong_Bailey) November 29, 2024
Rebecca Long Bailey mentioned three current concerns on why she will not be voting in favour of the Bill.
She said: “I am concerned that the Bill does not provide adequate safeguards and robust enough definitions to ensure people are protected from potential coercion and misdiagnosis.
“A doctor can not reasonably be expected to identify this and there is also no requirement for a psychiatric assessment on every occasion, only when the assessing doctor has doubts about capacity.”
The Salford MP second concern is centred around the provision of quality palliative care.
Long Bailey MP fears that if the Bill is passed that palliative care would become less of a priority, and believes that more funding should be issued to support the pain relief and care for the future.
She continued to share her third reason, as she said: “I fear that disabled and elderly people may be made to feel like a they are a burden to their family and society at large.”
This comes following the statistics from Washington State in the US, as it is reported that 61% of those requesting to end their lives felt like they were a burden to family, friends and care givers.
Rebecca Long Bailey MP continued: “I don’t believe the Bill would prevent this from happening.
“I am resolute that people deserve dignity in dying, and each person nearing the end of their life should feel reassured and safe in knowledge they will receive the very best care and be supported at that time to make it as peaceful and painless as possible.”
The full details of the assisted dying bill can be accessed on the Parliament website here.
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