Assisted dying vote

Thank you to everyone who has been in contact and shared their views on assisted dying in recent weeks. Before deciding how to vote, I have carefully considered the provisions of the legislation, taken into account the views of those in Tooting, as well as discussing this at length with experts. 

There are deeply felt personal, spiritual, philosophical and moral opinions held by individuals on both sides of this debate. Death is always a difficult subject. Our own death and the loss of those we love is a sad fact of life that each and every one of us will deal with at some point. As a doctor, death is something that my colleagues and I must confront every day. As a daughter, the death of my father from a terminal illness was a very eye-opening and traumatic experience, one which I’d wish on no-one.

After much thought, reflection and engagement with the community I represent, I have decided to vote against the Bill at its Second Reading.

The concerns I hold with the current proposals are multifaceted. I have spoken to key organisations and charities who have detailed their concerns that this legislation will have a disproportionate impact on disabled and BAME individuals. I am further worried that the current legislation does not go far enough to eliminate risks of coercion. Currently neither of the two doctors that would sign off on the process need to know the patient or their family. Nor are they mandated to seek a specialist clinical assessment. It is also important to me that we ensure people considering ending their own lives have access to good quality, well-resourced end-of-life care. This is currently not the reality for much of the country owing to a lack of resources. 

As such, moving forward, I will continue to advocate for improvements to palliative care, which can empower many individuals at the end of their lives, to enjoy their last moments with loved ones in as much comfort as possible and with peace of mind. 

There is no doubt that my colleagues have decided their vote, regardless of which side, with the very best of intentions. It is right that this Bill is being considered under a free vote, where every MP can vote with their conscience, and I am pleased that this has been a largely respectful, measured debate. I would like to thank everyone who has contacted me regarding this deeply personal issue - I have really listened. If the legislation passes today, there will remain opportunities to amend the Bill. I will look at any potential changes to the legislation closely.

While I cannot support the Bill at this stage, this debate was needed and the issue is very important to the public. Regardless of the outcome of the vote, I hope we can all continue to be as respectful and understanding towards one another as possible.