𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

This is devastating news for terminally ill adults who are dying in unbearable suffering. We’ve heard this argument for decades – “fix palliative and social care first”. Yet during those decades, people have continued to die in agony.

What about the estimated 650 terminally ill adults every year who feel they have no option but to end their own lives because their suffering cannot be relieved, often in harrowing ways, leaving loved ones devastated and traumatised? What about those forced to travel to Dignitas, often earlier than they would choose and often alone, because they know the end that awaits them and because they are scared of their loved ones being investigated?

Nobody is arguing against better palliative or social care. They absolutely must be improved. But that is the entire point – even the very best palliative care cannot relieve every person’s suffering. Assisted dying and high-quality palliative care work side by side in the many jurisdictions around the world where both are available, and which 300 million people already have access to.

Has he met and spoken to terminally ill adults and bereaved families? Is he aware of the horrendous suffering many have to endure as they die, against their will?

Andy Burnham needs to tell terminally ill people to their faces that, once again, they have no right to a compassionate death, that they must continue to suffer. While those with enough money can still travel abroad to access the choice denied to everyone else.

The overwhelming majority of the public supports changing the law. We’ve heard these delays and excuses for decades. How long are they supposed to wait for the choice of dignity and compassion?

Dying people don’t have time for these endless excuses and delays.

If your personal faith means assisted dying isn’t a choice you would make, then don’t choose it. But please don’t deny that choice to mentally competent terminally ill adults who desperately need it.

I ask you to please meet us, terminally ill, mentally competent adults, the only people eligible for this Bill, alongside bereaved families, to hear our stories, and then tell us that we still do not deserve choice.