Statement on Assisted Dying

6 hours ago

2 min read

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bydl2BaEO_E

I understand why people facing suffering want greater control at the end of their lives. This is personal, and those supporting change act from compassion. But compassion must never blind us to risk. That is why I will vote against the Assisted Dying Bill.

Before Parliament, I spent 18 years working in children’s services and safeguarding. I know coercion is rarely obvious. It can be quiet and hidden in private. Someone may appear to make a free choice while feeling like a burden, fearing the cost of their care or facing pressure from relatives.

The British Association of Social Workers warns the Bill does not require every applicant to undergo a safeguarding assessment. Without one, hidden coercion, financial abuse or pressure from relatives may be missed including whether someone feels their care needs are costly or exhausting for their family.

The Bill includes a social worker on a review panel, but does not require them to meet the applicant, examine their care records or speak to them away from relatives. Training them to recognise abuse is not enough. Only a proper safeguarding assessment can examine someone’s relationships, living conditions and care arrangements and establish whether the decision is their own.

This decision is irreversible. Parliament must be certain nobody chooses death because palliative care is unavailable or social care has failed them. A parliamentary report found end of life care fragmented, difficult to navigate and too often failing vulnerable patients.

The Prime Minister is right, we must fix funding for palliative and social care first, so vulnerable people have peace of mind about the care they will receive.

Real choice means palliative care, funded social care and support to live with dignity. Until those foundations and safeguards are in place, I cannot support this Bill. The risk of getting it wrong is too great.