The Assisted Dying Bill
Yesterday, the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill passed at stage one by 70 votes to 56, with one abstention. I was walking past The Scottish Parliament on the day of the vote where there were protests outside.
At one time, I would have agreed that a person has the right to decide when to end their life if they are suffering from a terminal illness. Upon reflection, it’s not that simple.
A society that has genuine compassion for its weakest and most vulnerable members would provide the support necessary for them to live as well and for as long as they possibly can.
Instead, the UK is withdrawing support from the poor, sick and elderly. That’s why the debate about whether the state should assist its most vulnerable citizens in ending their lives while it is withdrawing essential support — reducing disability benefits, starving the NHS, paring social and palliative care, eliminating the Winter Fuel Allowance, penalising families with more than two children — not only seems wrong but is wrong.
I want to share a piece from my daughter’s blog where she highlights these concerns and warns that assisted dying legislation in the absence of a broader social contract that values and protects its most vulnerable citizens is a dangerous slippery slope.
The piece can be accessed here.
When will we learn that individual 'rights' for a few can result in dire hidden consequences for the rest? Who has gone through life never once expressing a wish to not be here any longer? If this goes through that could become a highly dangerous thing to voice. Most working in palliative and end of life care oppose this bill. We need to listen to them. The human instinct is to live. There is no correlation between the strength of that instinct and the physical circumstances of the individual.
If you're stupid enough to believe that the government is doing this with your best interests in mind, then you really do need euthanising.