Alison Bennett MP: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
Many of my constituents have written to me about the Private Member’s Bill that Kim Leadbeater tabled: ‘Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill’ and I know many more are deeply interested in this. This Bill was debated and went to a vote on Friday and was passed by 330 votes to 275.
The vote was decided by MPs as a matter of conscience. This means that the Liberal Democrats did not decide how our MPs should vote on it, and what follows are my personal views.
I have read and considered the many moving emails that have been sent to me. Throughout this process, I have been mindful that assisted dying is an incredibly sensitive subject and I respect the strong and deeply held convictions people hold about this subject on both sides of the debate. When considering something as important and as difficult as this, showing respect to those whose views differ to our own has been extremely important to me.
Assisted dying should never be seen or used as an alternative to providing the very best palliative care that is available. Sadly, at the present time, we do not fund palliative care adequately and I know that hospices that care for Mid Sussex residents are in financial difficulties.
Since being elected I have visited both St Catherine’s Hospice in Pease Pottage, and St Peter and St James Hospice in North Chailey. I have met with the Hospices Trust and Marie Curie. In the House of Commons, I have asked the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care what plans he has to ensure that hospices are properly funded.
Since the Bill received its first reading in October, I have made sure to prioritise attending a number of events and meetings and read a variety of reports on this matter as well as considering the correspondence from my constituents. I have felt fortunate to listen to speakers such as Kim Leadbeater MP herself, members of Dignity in Dying, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, the Bishop of London, Professor Charles Foster, the human rights organisation Liberty, Professor Anne Kerr, Professor Gareth Owen, Professor Nancy Preston, Professor Alex Ruck Keene KC and Professor Katherine Sleeman.
After much deliberation and having attended and listened to the debate in the House of Commons on Friday 29th October, I voted in favour of the bill.
The most compelling argument for me was that this is a proposal that enables an individual to have control over the manner of their death. I believe that we should all be able to exercise control during our lives and this for me naturally extends to how one’s own life can end. Further, in my view giving this choice to those that want it, does not compel those who are opposed to assisted dying to take this option. Importantly, the proposals will not force medical professionals to help a patient take this path if it is counter to their own beliefs.
I do not think that we are facing a choice between palliative care or assisted dying. I think that there is a compelling argument that the two done well are complimentary. As a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hospices, I will continue to advocate for outstanding hospice and palliative care and for the funding to make hospices financially secure.
It is important to note that although the Bill passed its second reading on Friday, it has not become law. Instead it moves to the committee stage where amendments can be processed before proceeding to the third reading and House of Lords stages. I will continue to follow its progression closely before it comes back for the third reading and vote.
Alison Bennett MP