Deep concern at possible return of UK assisted dying bill

Archbishop John Sherrington was reacting to news that an assisted dying bill for England and Wales, which ran out of time in the House of Lords in April, is set to return to the UK Parliament.

Lauren Edwards, Labour MP for Rochester and Strood, said she would bring in an identical bill to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed by the Commons last year. The proposed law would allow adults who are expected to die within six months to be given help to end their own life.

By bringing back the exact same legislation, which is expected to be debated in the Commons in September, Ms Edwards is threatening to utilise rarely used powers to override the Lords’ objections if they refuse to pass again.

Bills normally only become law in the UK if both Houses of Parliament agree on the final wording, but powers under the Parliament Act mean that if MPs pass an identical bill in two consecutive parliamentary sessions, the Lords cannot block it the second time.

“The recent debate about this bill showed how many people found the proposed legislation, even if they accepted it in principle, to be flawed and full of unresolved matters,” Archbishop Sherrington said.

He pointed out that the majority in favour of the bill in the Commons reduced between readings as the issues became apparent, and that the Lords identified many shortcomings and bad legislation.

In addition, many professional bodies argued against this bill, including the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of Physicians, disability rights groups, and those fighting against eating disorders and against domestic abuse.

Archbishop Sherrington said the bill also undermines freedom of conscience for medical professionals and care workers, as well as threatening the future existence and wellbeing of care homes and hospices by forcing them to participate in assisted suicide.

“Recent debates have exposed the uneven provision of palliative care across the country,” he said. “Surely what is now needed to help the terminally ill is an improvement in compassionate, high-quality palliative care, and proper hospice funding.”

Archbishop Sherrington urged the Parliament to debate priorities in healthcare funding, especially for those living with terminal illness.

“Reintroducing this legislation, once again, places the most vulnerable at risk,” he concluded. “I ask MPs to reject this bill, and call on all people of goodwill to join me in work and prayer to prevent this flawed bill from succeeding.”

FULL STORY

Archbishops ‘deeply disappointed’ by reintroduction of assisted dying bill (By Aili Winstanley Channer/The Tablet)

Assisted dying bill to return to parliament unchanged despite Lords’ objections (The Tablet)