The Labour MP for Wolverhampton South West, Rob Marris, is to bring forward a Private Members Bill to address the issue of assisted suicide. He came first in the Private Members Bill ballot last week. He will, so the reports say, use the Bill pioneered in the House of Lords last year by Lord Falconer.
The proposals would allow patients thought to have no more than six months to live, and who had demonstrated a “clear and settled intention” to end their lives, to be prescribed a lethal dose of drugs on the authority of two doctors.
The report of the news is here:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/11662127/MPs-to-be-given-historic-right-to-die-vote.html
Full details of the Falconer Bill are here: http://www.dignityindying.org.uk/assisted-dying/lord-falconers-assisted-dying-bill/
My stance on this issue is well known and was widely discussed at the constituency hustings at the last election but my views are set out here:
- http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/hexham-mp-guy-opperman-backs-4413760
and in the last parliamentary debate here:
- http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2012-03-27a.1373.0&s=assisted+suicide+speaker%3A24962#g1432.1
A few key points to add and to note: -
- This is a clearly very contentious issue.
- Private Members Bills rarely get through both houses of parliament unless there is universal support, so I believe that prospects of success are very limited.
- The matter was put to the PM on Wednesday at PMQs: he replied as follows: -
"On this issue I very much agree with my hon. Friend, which is that I do not support the assisted dying proposals that have come out of the other place. I do not support euthanasia. I know that there are imperfections and problems with the current law, but I think that these can be dealt with sensitively and sensibly without having a new law that actually brings in euthanasia. As she says, I think the problem is the pressure that is then put on frail, elderly people to take a decision that they might not want to go ahead with."
Showing posts with label Assisted Dying Bill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Assisted Dying Bill. Show all posts
Saturday, 13 June 2015
Sunday, 13 July 2014
Women Bishops and Assisted Dying see the Synod, Parliament and 2 Archbishops debating
Justin Welby is the greatest churchman I have ever met, and an outstanding Archbishop of Canterbury. When you meet him you are genuinely moved. If any Churchman has an aura he has it.
He has two very large issues to confront over the next week: I am strongly behind him on one [women bishops] and against him on the second [assisted dying].
- on Monday the Church of England General Synod debates the thorny issue of Women Bishops, with a great prospect of success at last. I am in no doubt that the presence of female vicars has re galvanised the Anglican faith. I see it regularly both in the churches in Tynedale and daily in the House of Commons, where our vicar is female. The Rev Rose Hudson Wilkin has made a huge difference in parliament. My strong hope is that the Synod will change their view on women bishops.
- on Friday the House of Lords begins the debate on the Assisted Dying Bill. I am told there are over 100 speakers in their Lordships debate. This means they will debate through the night. Justin Welby has made his position clear in today's Times. I also have to acknowledge that this Bill is highly unlikely to succeed in parliament, until one of the political parties has the courage to back it. Single member or Private Member Bills rarely ever pass as they are blocked, are subject to lengthy filibuster or talked out.
However, Saturday's announcement by former Archbishop Carey is a true ground breaker: put simply, Carey has changed his mind. His views are in all the papers - he argues that it is not true Christianity to ignore agony and suffering. As he puts it:
"In strictly observing the sanctity of life the church could now actually be sanctioning anguish and pain, the very opposite of the Christian message of hope."
For those who oppose this Bill I would urge you to read it before coming to a judgement.
The BBC report is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28274531
My speeches and blogs on this issue are easily found: the House of Commons last debated this issue in March 2012: the debate moved me immensely. Read the speech of Paul Blomfield, who is a Sheffield Labour MP, and friend and colleague of mine: his is an amazing speech. Mine is here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2012-03-27a.1373.0&s=%28%28assisted+suicide%29%29+speaker%3A24962#g1432.1
He has two very large issues to confront over the next week: I am strongly behind him on one [women bishops] and against him on the second [assisted dying].
- on Monday the Church of England General Synod debates the thorny issue of Women Bishops, with a great prospect of success at last. I am in no doubt that the presence of female vicars has re galvanised the Anglican faith. I see it regularly both in the churches in Tynedale and daily in the House of Commons, where our vicar is female. The Rev Rose Hudson Wilkin has made a huge difference in parliament. My strong hope is that the Synod will change their view on women bishops.
- on Friday the House of Lords begins the debate on the Assisted Dying Bill. I am told there are over 100 speakers in their Lordships debate. This means they will debate through the night. Justin Welby has made his position clear in today's Times. I also have to acknowledge that this Bill is highly unlikely to succeed in parliament, until one of the political parties has the courage to back it. Single member or Private Member Bills rarely ever pass as they are blocked, are subject to lengthy filibuster or talked out.
However, Saturday's announcement by former Archbishop Carey is a true ground breaker: put simply, Carey has changed his mind. His views are in all the papers - he argues that it is not true Christianity to ignore agony and suffering. As he puts it:
"In strictly observing the sanctity of life the church could now actually be sanctioning anguish and pain, the very opposite of the Christian message of hope."
For those who oppose this Bill I would urge you to read it before coming to a judgement.
The BBC report is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28274531
My speeches and blogs on this issue are easily found: the House of Commons last debated this issue in March 2012: the debate moved me immensely. Read the speech of Paul Blomfield, who is a Sheffield Labour MP, and friend and colleague of mine: his is an amazing speech. Mine is here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2012-03-27a.1373.0&s=%28%28assisted+suicide%29%29+speaker%3A24962#g1432.1
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