Advertisement
BLACK FRIDAY OFFER: 3 months for just £9.99
SUBSCRIBE
Social Justice

Assisted dying is a step closer to being legalised – but are the safeguards tough enough?

The public has shown support for assisted dying being legalised, in principle, but disability campaigners are concerned that it could still put vulnerable people at risk

kim leadbeater talking about her assisted dying bill

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who has brought forward the bill. Image: Sky News

Assisted dying is a step closer to being legalised in England and Wales after MPs voted in its favour, but campaigners remain concerned that the safeguards are not yet rigorous enough to protect vulnerable people.

MPs voted for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to be taken to the next stage with a majority of 55, following an impassioned debate discussing both sides of the assisted dying conversation.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater urged her colleagues to consider “the heartbreaking reality and human suffering which far too many people are experiencing as a result of the status quo”.

Alongside colleagues, Leadbeater shared harrowing stories of people who had attempted to take their own lives because of the pain they were experiencing due to terminal illness – including a mother whose toddler found her after she attempted suicide because morphine was failing to stop her pain.

It is believed that the public largely backs the legalisation of assisted dying. A YouGov study showed that almost three quarters (73%) of Brits believe that, in principle, assisted dying should be legal in the UK, compared to only 13% who say it should not.

However, there are concerns, in particular among the disability community, that the safeguards outlined in the current bill are not rigorous enough to protect people who are already made to feel as though they are a “burden” in society.

Advertisement
Advertisement

A spokesperson for Disability Rights UK said: “This decision comes as a profound betrayal to disabled people across the UK, who continue to struggle to live with dignity in a society that fails to meet even our most basic needs.

“At a time when social care is chronically underfunded, accessible housing is scarce, and many disabled people are unable to afford food, energy, or other essentials, this legislation sends a chilling message: the government prioritises the right to die over the right to live.”

Campaigners argue that failures of the NHS, welfare state and social care system reduce the quality of life for disabled people. Many have told the Big Issue about their harrowing experiences with the disability benefits system, for example.

As a result, disabled people lack trust in the state to act in their best interests, and the conversation around assisted dying has prompted further fears that they may be ignored.

“We stand firmly against a law that risks pressuring disabled people into decisions driven by fear, desperation, or lack of options rather than genuine choice. This legislation could deepen inequalities and reinforce societal biases that view disabled people’s lives as less valuable,” the spokesperson for Disability Rights UK added.

“Disability Rights UK is committed to fighting for a society where every disabled person has the support they need to live fulfilling lives with dignity and respect. We call on the government to immediately invest in social care, housing, and financial support for disabled people. The focus must be on enabling life, not facilitating death.”

Advertisement

Leadbeater stressed that there are safeguards in place in her bill which means “only adults who are dying will come within its scope”. She claimed it will not apply to elderly people, chronically ill people, disabled people and those with mental health conditions.

People will have to have the mental capacity to make the choice, free from coercion or pressure; they must be expected to die within six months; and two independent doctors and a High Court judge must be satisfied the person is eligible.

But talk of such safeguards has done little to ease the nerves of disabled people. Phil Friend, convenor of Not Dead Yet UK, said: “This is the wrong bill at the wrong time. That’s been recognised by MPs from across the political spectrum, including members of the cabinet.

“Our focus should be fixing the health and social care systems that have been neglected for so long, not creating a new mechanism that supports people to die.”

Friend had previously told the Big Issue: “If you could convince me that the safeguards were in place – that the right palliative care and social care had been done and there was no way of relieving somebody’s pain and suffering, having done all of that, then there might be a case of saying okay.

“But we haven’t even got close to providing any of that. Our national health service, as you well know, is falling to bits. Social care is pretty non existent. The benefits system is a mess. So people are making decisions based on having nothing. 

Advertisement

“They believe it’s better to die. And yet we know that if you give people the right accommodation, the right social care support, the right palliative medicine, they do not talk about ending their lives. They talk about living their lives.”

There are also concerns for other vulnerable groups. Labour MP Florence Eshalomi noted that people from Black and ethnic minority groups are more likely to fall victim to the failures of health services – saying that “we should be helping people to live, in a comfortable way on their own terms, before we make it easier to die”.

“The risk of coercion will be highest for people from disadvantaged communities,” Eshalomi added, saying: “Freedom in death is only possible if you have freedom in life.”

Others were far more welcoming of the bill, while still urging caution around safeguards.

Gideon Salutin, senior researcher at the Social Market Foundation said: “This success is only the beginning. Today’s landmark vote saw parliament agree in principle to change the law, but now comes the hard work of crafting policies and regulations that allow access to assisted dying for some while protecting our most vulnerable citizens and healthcare professionals.”

Salutin suggested further safeguards to “reassure those concerned by today’s result”, with amendments to the bill and additional regulations to be brought forward to reform the healthcare system. 

Advertisement

In particular, the Social Market Foundation is calling for a requirement for committees to oversee procedure in each NHS region and for expert consultants to be available upon request for complex cases, to ensure safety and due process.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us moreBig Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.

Big Issue is demanding an end to extreme poverty. Will you ask your MP to join us?

Advertisement

Change a vendor's life this Christmas

This Christmas, 3.8 million people across the UK will be facing extreme poverty. Thousands of those struggling will turn to selling the Big Issue as a vital source of income - they need your support to earn and lift themselves out of poverty.

Recommended for you

View all
Teacher of the Year winner Oli McVeigh: 'Boys are bottling up and repressing lots of different ideas'
Teacher of the year Oli McVeigh
Education

Teacher of the Year winner Oli McVeigh: 'Boys are bottling up and repressing lots of different ideas'

'This is a very difficult decision': MPs vote to take forward assisted dying bill after emotional debate
kim leadbeater
Assisted dying

'This is a very difficult decision': MPs vote to take forward assisted dying bill after emotional debate

'This will ease the backlog': Asylum legal aid rates set to increase for first time in almost 30 years
Home secretary Yvette Cooper
Legal aid

'This will ease the backlog': Asylum legal aid rates set to increase for first time in almost 30 years

'Remember these are human beings': This is what the highly-politicised UK migration stats really mean
Protesting the Borders Bill
Immigration

'Remember these are human beings': This is what the highly-politicised UK migration stats really mean

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know