Review by Tony Brewer
The speaker for our discussion of assisted dying in February was Nathan Stilwell, the Assisted Dying Campaign Lead for Humanists UK. He opened by defining what is meant by the term – it’s an umbrella term that covers the various approaches to and aspects of a person having the right to die, covering in particular assisted suicide, voluntary euthanasia, medical assistance in dying (MAiD), voluntary assisted dying (VAD) and physician assisted dying (VAD). He pointed out that, in the UK, it is not illegal to take one’s own life but it is illegal to assist someone to take their own life.
There have been many attempts to change the law, both by individuals in the courts and in Parliament. The judges have said that it’s a matter for Parliament and Parliament, so far, has always voted against changing the law, although with steadily decreasing majorities. Informed opinion is that if there were a vote today to legalise assisted dying, it would pass. The position of Humanists UK is that “we seek to legalise assisted dying for adults of sound mind who are suffering intolerably from a physical incurable condition”. Note that this statement excludes children and excludes mental conditions.
All jurisdictions that have approved assisted dying have insisted on careful safeguards. Humanists UK would include written and independently witnessed consent from the applicant; agreement from two independent and appropriately trained doctors; consistent guidelines for all involved; and a minimum one-year waiting time between application and implementation. Assisted dying is already legal in Canada, New Zealand, many parts of the EU, in several states in Australia and the USA.
The main argument in favour of assisted dying is an extension of human rights to include the right to control over one’s own body – in particular, control of medical treatment and over the timing and method of death. This is supported by a wish to achieve equality of opportunity in an increasingly diverse society. Nathan said that those rich enough already have an option to die by applying to Dignitas in Switzerland, but the cost of termination is currently around £9,000 to which must be added practical expenses of around £2,000. The main argument against assisted dying is the traditional religious view that life is a gift from God so that ending one’s life is a mortal sin.
Nathan stressed that assisted dying is not an alternative to palliative care, it is a complement to it. The available evidence suggests that having the right to die increases the use of palliative care since there is a clear exit if needed.
The evidence in support of assisted dying includes the large number of people, at least 6,000 per year, who suffer unnecessarily despite having access to pain relief, and the increasing incidence of terminal suicides, often suicide pacts between two sufferers who determine to help each other.
Nathan suggested that those in favour of assisted dying could generate popular approval by talking about it, especially by quoting personal experiences, by supporting campaigns such as Humanists UK, by generating discussion within political parties, by writing to MPs and by contributing to ‘phone-in discussions.
His presentation was followed by lively discussion, both during the remainder of the meeting and subsequently in the pub. Overall, this was an important and successful event.
You can access the slides from Nathan’s talk here:
