What is the alternative to assisted suicide?
The advocates of AS rightly argue for improved access to high quality health and social care at the end of life, known as ‘palliative care’, but argue that palliative care can never be good enough to minimise suffering in all cases. The evidence suggests, however, that we could do so much more to ease suffering. Palliative care in the UK is the best in the world, but the system for providing it is patchy and badly underfunded.
Press Release: Outcome of the Second Reading of the Assisted Dying Bill
The Assisted Dying Bill proceeded from its Second Reading in the House of Lords today - in spite of over 60 Peers speaking to oppose the Bill - as is convention. It is the accepted custom of the House of Lords for Bills to move to Committee Stage without a division....
Oxford ethicist says, “Don’t let the assisted-suicide lobby hijack ‘dignity’”
James Mumford, visiting fellow at the McDonald Centre at Oxford University, argues that the assisted suicide debate is a contest over the meaning of this word: 'dignity'. This term is used again and again within assisted suicide organisations and legislation...
Danny Kruger, MP- There’s a better way of dying than assisted suicide
Writing in The Times, Chair of the APPG for Dying Well, Danny Kruger MP, says assisted suicide is not the solution to suffering at the end of life. While assisted suicide is portrayed by its advocates as a peaceful, painless way to die, in jurisdictions were assisted...
Responding to the BMA vote on Assisted Suicide
Responding to the BMA vote on assisted suicide, Danny Kruger MP, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Dying Well, said: “That even the most activist doctors group could not muster a majority for neutrality on assisted suicide shows just how unpopular it...
Podcast: Caring for the Dying
In the latest podcast released by Living and Dying Well Baroness Ilora Finlay, a palliative medicine professor, discusses end of life care, doctor-patient trust and the right to die in our latest podcast. Watch or listen here:...
Must Read: With the End in Mind
What does dying well look like? The best way to answer that question is with real human stories of the last days of life. Dr Kathryn Mannix, a palliative care doctor for the last thirty years, has written With the End in Mind, to capture the wisdom of death and dying...
Build back better with more palliative care, not assisted suicide
Author: Nola Leach That the Government needs to conduct an urgent review of palliative care in England and Wales was brought home forcefully to me by a moving article in the Times in late October. The author, a lady suffering from terminal cancer, explained that she...
Fifty palliative care doctors speak out against introducing assisted suicide
Sourced from: Right to Life UK Over fifty doctors working in palliative medicine and care for dying patients have signed a letter to The Times in opposition to any proposed changes in the assisted suicide law. In the face of continual attempts to legalise...
Many in the dark on end of life
Author: Care Not Killing Research indicates 'a lack of understanding that death can be "gentle, peaceful and pain-free"' Doctors.net.uk reported recently: 'Public ignorance about dying increases fears about the pain and indignity associated with the event, senior...
