Why I'm voting against the assisted dying bill

Why would anyone vote to prolong the suffering of others? That is the question that bears heavily on me and my colleagues as we prepare to vote on the private members bill to legalise assisted suicide today. It is with a heavy heart as a progressive that I will be voting against the bill.

Reducing suffering is part of the reason people take part in public life. This is especially the case, if you believe as I do, in enabling people to have more control and autonomy over their lives. 

Earlier this month, I held a ‘listening event’ about assisted dying in my constituency of East Thanet. It was an emotional experience. Many people are clearly traumatised by having to watch their loved ones suffer. 

I was deeply moved by the personal and emotional stories of love and loss people shared with me. Many more have shared their experiences by email. I will take all this with me when I enter the voting lobbies today.

I know the difference a planned for and supported death can make for the family of a person with a terminal illness. My own grandfather died in a hospice surrounded by his family and at peace. I would hope that we can achieve that for those who need and want it. 

However, we also need to be mindful of practicalities when we legislate. This is not just about those with loving families and friends – we also have to protect the vulnerable from bad actors. 

How will the law apply to those who do not have full capacity, such as those with learning disabilities or the mentally ill? How will the law protect those who consider themselves a burden, even if the law provides protection for people from external pressures? And what happens if the care options a person wants are not available, and so they choose assisted death instead? 

This is a serious issue at this time. The NHS is in a parlous state. Palliative and hospice care is in no better a position. Hospice UK says the sector’s finances are the worst they have been for 20 years, with many providers forced to cut services, close patient beds, and make staff redundant.

I am hugely concerned that vulnerable people will be left in the unacceptable position of factoring the quality of care they might receive into a choice about whether to end their own life. I cannot simply overlook that reality because I am sympathetic to the broader principle of allowing people greater choice.

In California, where assisted dying is legal, the law kicks in when people are deemed to have six months to live, as is proposed here. That is also the time when Medicare means you will have your hospice costs covered. We have no such reliable coverage here. If we care about dignity, these practicalities matter.

I am also considering the impact on those who care for the dying, including doctors and nurses, as well as family and friends. The testimony we have heard tells us that doctors involved in the assisted dying process find it extremely traumatising. These are people who deal with death every day. This is not an argument against the law, but we should be aware of its implications. 

I cannot say that I will not change my mind about assisted dying in the future if the state of end-of-life care improves. But right now, I cannot vote for a change in the law while palliative care is in such a parlous state. I genuinely cannot tell which way the vote will go today. But right now, I have made up my mind that Britain is not ready to legalise assisted dying, which is why I will be voting against.

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