Reflections on the Assisted Suicide Bill

These thoughts of the former Chairman and current Trustee of CViE, Michael Ridout, are shared to offer helpful perspective on this current matter before Parliament (and our society), and to encourage our dear CViE supporters.

To the supporters of Christian Values in Education –

Thoughts as we draw nearer to Friday, 29 November 2024 when it is proposed to hold the debate on the Kim Leadbeater assisted dying bill – all these things if the Lord will.

I have drawn on sources that I have recently come across and are in addition to those from Christian Institute, Christian Concern and other sources.

Besides the proposed legislation being God dishonouring, it is very much the thin end of the wedge and one of the concerns being expressed is the inadequacy of safeguards proposed as has been the case in Canada.

It was ‘encouraging’ to see that there are those in Parliament who are prepared to speak out against this legislation, and to read the article by Diane Abbott and Edward Leigh (who are either end of the political spectrum) voicing their joint-concerns over this bill.

Another aspect of the bill is the subtle use of language such as “assisted dying” and adopting the false argument/delusion of the ‘quality-of-life’ as opposed to the sanctity of life.

(How we need to be reminded of the words of Paul, Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:11-12) The Lord help us to stand fast.)

The words of the psalmist come to mind The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God (Psalm 14:1), yet, but for sovereign grace, what could be said of us?

Is our cry:

“Prepare me, gracious God,

To stand before thy face;

Thy Spirit must the work perform,

For it is all of grace”.

I do trust the following will be of help.

Lessons from Canada: why ‘safeguards’ are doomed to fail

Much has been made of the ‘robustness’ of the safeguards in Kim Leadbeater’s MP assisted suicide bill currently before the UK Parliament. Yet many are fearful that the so-called ‘safeguards’ are the thin end of the wedge. 

Amanda Achtman, a Canadian who works to prevent and speak out against euthanasia, reflects on how the safeguards introduced alongside the legislation introduced in Canada in 2016 “Medical Assistance in Dying” (MAID) have been eroded – read it here.

Our politics could not be more different – but we’re united against this dangerous assisted dying bill 

It was very encouraging to read an article in The Guardian written by Diane Abbott and Edward Leigh (respectively mother and father of the House of Commons) expressing their concern over the dangerous assisted-dying bill.

The article opens with the following paragraph:

“Free votes on conscience matters are comparatively rare in the UK parliament. But they are almost always about issues of once-in-a-generation social change. Laws such as this need the utmost care because of the risk of unintended consequences. This is especially the case with the current assisted dying bill”.

The authors then go on to raise concern over the time available for the scrutiny of the bill and the lack of familiarity amongst many newly elected MPs of Parliamentary procedure. They also wisely identify:

“But our worry about this bill is not just about the rushed process. We are also concerned about how the new legislation would be implemented in practice, particularly as regards to vulnerable groups. The organisations campaigning for a change in the law have successfully used high-profile celebrities to promote the cause. We do not doubt their sincerity, and sympathise greatly with anyone experiencing the fear and pain that can sadly accompany terminal illness, but MPs must make laws based on their effect on every member of society, not just those whose profile gives them a prominent voice”.

The article can be found here.

Policy Exchange: Position-Assisted Suicide: Improving the Quality of the Debate.

This report criticising the quality of Parliamentary debate on the last bill (Baroness Meacher’s Assisted Dying Bill (2021)) seeking to legalise physician-assisted suicide has been republished in light of the imminent debate on a similar bill introduced in the House of Commons by Kim Leadbeater MP (Baroness Meacher’s Bill ran out of parliamentary time and consequently did not proceed further.)

“The report, written by Professor John Keown, one of the world’s leading authorities on medical law and ethics and author of ‘the classic text’ on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, warns that the law in Canada provides ‘a revealing and ongoing illustration of the slippery slope’, and argues that legalising physician-assisted suicide for the terminally ill could and would ‘be extended to many other patients, including the frail elderly and people with a range of disabilities.’”

Christians in Care talk on Assisted Suicide

There have been many resources produced by organisations such as: Christian Institute, Christian Concern, CARE, SPUC, and Care Not Killing to help Christians and others in understanding the issues related to assisted dying as a support to help people in writing to their MPs.

One resource that is particularly helpful is a presentation organised by Christians in Care which includes an overview, by Dr Gillian Wright (Our Duty of Care), of the issues involved in the assisted dying debate. The poignancy of presentation is the emphasis on the need for palliative care and sharing their experiences of dealing with those at end-of-life.

So let us pray

The solemnity of the proposed legislation (and that that has gone before it) is that death is not the end of our existence and the Word of God declares And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Hebrews 9:27.  What a mercy if we are found amongst those that look for the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ – So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Hebrews 9:28

Interestingly, Dr Peter Saunders (former Chief Executive of the Christian Medical Fellowship) wrote in 2015 that the “Assisted Dying (No 2) Bill of Labour MP Rob Marris was the eleventh attempt in twelve years to legalise assisted suicide through British Parliaments. But its overwhelming defeat yesterday (11 September 2015) by a margin of 212 votes (330 to 118) should settle this matter for a decade”.  Once more this matter is before Parliament – might the Lord hear the united prayers of his people to constrain the hearts of those in Parliament to vote against the legislation proposed in Kim Leadbeater’s bill.

The Lord grant us the faith to believe Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee. (Jeremiah 32:17)

A helpful summary on the issues involved with euthanasia and assisted dying together with links to useful resources has recently been produced by Christian Values in Education and can be found at the CViE website.