In Depth:  euthanasia

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Beware the ‘optimism bias’ over assisted suicide

Beware the ‘optimism bias’ over assisted suicide

James Mildred
James Mildred

If you have ever done a driver’s awareness course (yes, this is autobiographical), there is a section where the instructor will ask you to grade yourself out of ten as a driver. Most people will select 7-9 as their self-assessment. Which is ironic given the course you are doing.

The instructor might then explain that science tells us there are three biases going on. Firstly, there is the optimism bias: we assume we will be fine and will never be involved in a serious prang or crash. Secondly, the what-about bias: we look back on times where we’ve overtaken on a bend and because it all worked out, we assume it will be fine again. Finally, there is the skill enhancement bias: we think we’re better drivers than we are.

A duty to ask to die? Disability and assisted dying

A duty to ask to die? Disability and assisted dying

Kay Morgan-Gurr
Kay Morgan-Gurr

Have you ever had anyone come up to you and say, ‘I’d rather be dead than be like you’?

I have, numerous times! Apparently, people would rather be dead because they can’t see why anyone could want to be alive if they use a wheelchair. And it’s not just physical disability - there are many people who have the same view of autism.

Pressure mounts for fresh vote on assisted suicide

Pressure mounts for fresh vote on assisted suicide

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

Assisted suicide could be legalised in England and Wales within months, after reports that Downing Street would not obstruct a Private Member’s bill to introduce legislation. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has previously supported a law change and promised a free vote.

A so-called ‘citizen’s jury’ recently backed the legalising of assisted dying for the terminally ill.

Letter

Polyamory & euthanasia

Date posted: 11 Sep 2024

Dear Editor,

Thanks to Andrew Bunt for alerting us in the August issue of en to the rise and acceptance of polyamorous relationships.

Hospices warn on assisted dying

Hospices warn on assisted dying

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

Hospices in the UK are warning of severe underfunding, leading to fears that if ‘assisted dying’ is legalised, it would lead to more terminally ill patients requesting it.

In July, a Private Member’s bill on assisted dying was introduced in the Lords, and CARE has warned that a ‘right to die’ would become a ‘duty to die’. The bill was introduced by Lord Falconer, who has been campaigning for legalising assisted dying for more than a decade.

Assisted dying: a crunch vote approaches
politics & policy

Assisted dying: a crunch vote approaches

James Mildred
James Mildred

‘If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again…’ One politician who has taken this mantra to heart is Lord Falconer.

When I first joined CARE (Christian Action Research and Education), his Private Members’ bill to legalise assisted suicide for terminally ill adults with six months or less to live was before the House of Lords. In the end, time ran out and it failed to progress enough to become law.

Assisted suicide: a clash  of two worldviews
politics & policy

Assisted suicide: a clash of two worldviews

James Mildred
James Mildred

In a column for The Times, commentator Matthew Parris said that legalising assisted suicide would put pressure on older people and those with a terminal illness to end their lives. In his view, this is a good thing.

In a similar article for the The Spectator, he said that legalising assisted suicide was simply the outworking of Darwinian social thought. Our moral codes, he argued, are driven by the Darwinian notion of the fight for survival, whether we accept this or not.

Responding to Matthew Parris: is euthanasia to be encouraged?

Responding to Matthew Parris: is euthanasia to be encouraged?

Dave Williams
Dave Williams

One of the concerns many of us have raised over the years is that legalised euthanasia (or assisted dying as it is now commonly described) would lead to increased pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives.  

We were laughed at for this and accused of relying on a 'slippery slope argument.' 'Don’t be silly', we were told. 'This is just about giving the right to a good death to those who wish to take it up.'

‘Death literacy and support’ urged as assisted dying debate continues

‘Death literacy and support’ urged as assisted dying debate continues

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

Government should commission research into understanding how to better provide mental health support and guidance for those living with a terminal diagnosis – that is the conclusion of the Health and Social Care Committee following its inquiry into assisted suicide and assisted dying.

The Committee also called for a national strategy for ‘death literacy and support’ from the moment a terminal diagnosis is given – but stopped short of recommending changes in the law on assisted dying.

On assisted dying
editorial

On assisted dying

It can sometimes feel as though there is an inevitability about the legalisation of ‘assisted dying’ in at least some parts of the UK.

Many media organisations like to present it that way. A poll reported on 11 March said that out of about 10,000 people, 75% supported ‘making it legal for a person to seek assisted dying’ – with 14% opposed. However, the poll was commissioned by pressure group Dignity in Dying – scarcely a neutral party – and looking on that organisation’s website it was not possible to find the detailed data from which very generalised headlines were generated.

Faith, politics, philosophy, Prue Leith & Canada’s conveyor belt of death

Faith, politics, philosophy, Prue Leith & Canada’s conveyor belt of death

Rebecca Chapman
Rebecca Chapman

Danny Kruger MP is the Member of Parliament for Devizes and an evangelical Christian.

He has previously worked in journalism and in politics, having worked as a speechwriter for David Cameron, and as Political Secretary to Boris Johnson when he was Prime Minister. In 2006 he and his wife Emma founded Only Connect, a project working in prisons to stop criminals re-offending.

Coming here? Canada’s  horror show of assisted dying
politics & policy

Coming here? Canada’s horror show of assisted dying

James Mildred
James Mildred

Just before Christmas I read two articles by two different authors. One was by The Times Scotland columnist Alex Massie. He said he used to be in favour of the legalisation of assisted suicide, but now wondered whether any such law could be safely implemented. The other was by Sonia Sodha in the Guardian. She also used to be in favour but now opposes any change in the law on similar grounds.

Both these authors have been influenced by the horror show that is unfolding in Canada, where assisted suicide and a form of euthanasia have been legal since 2016. It shows you the importance of looking at the evidence from other countries and making sure as many people as possible know about what’s been going on.

Scots assisted dying plea

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

Several doctors and other health professionals in Scotland have called for MSPs to vote against proposed laws allowing assisted suicide.

Work is already underway on legislation that will permit assisted dying for those who are terminally ill and mentally competent. It is the third attempt to introduce laws to legalise assisted dying in Scotland.

Assisted suicide: 
 Lords debate

Assisted suicide: Lords debate

BMJ / Telegraph / Spectator / CARE

Evangelicals are awaiting the result of a House of Lords debate on assisted suicide scheduled for late October.

The bill aims to legalise assisted suicide in England and Wales for terminally ill adults with six months or less left to live.

Jersey / Scotland: assisted dying closer

Jersey / Scotland: assisted dying closer

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

Assisted dying could soon be legal in the Bailiwick of Jersey after a citizens’ panel voted strongly in favour of a change in the law.

Jersey’s Assisted Dying Citizens’ Jury was asked whether assisted dying should be permitted and, if so, under what circumstances. The jury heard oral and written expert evidence over a ten-week period to give them an informed vote.

One in 25 Dutch deaths is euthanasia

Iain Taylor / Christian Concern

In 2020, 4.3% of deaths in the Netherlands were due to euthanasia.

The official Regional Euthanasia Review Committees (RTE), revealed that a total of 6,938 people asked to be euthanased (which includes both ‘termination of life on request’ and ‘assisted suicide’) and died through the medical procedure legalised two decades ago.

Assisted dying: opening  Pandora’s box
politics & policy

Assisted dying: opening Pandora’s box

James Mildred
James Mildred

The starting pistol has been fired in the race to legalise assisted suicide.

After appearing before the End of Choice All Party Parliamentary Group, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock then wrote to the national statistician, Ian Diamond, requesting information on the number of terminally-ill patients who had killed themselves because of their diagnosis. Mr Hancock wants a new debate on the issue and there are plenty other MPs who want the same.

The fight of your life: new Westminster 
 group formed to fight assisted dying

The fight of your life: new Westminster group formed to fight assisted dying

EN

A new initiative opposing the campaign to legalise euthanasia has been launched at Westminster.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Dying Well – Dying Well, for short – says it wishes ‘to promote excellence in palliative care and stand against the legalisation of doctor-assisted suicide’.