Campaigners from 'Dignity in Dying' held placards during a demonstration outside The Palace of Westminster, the home of the Houses of Parliament in central London, on October 16, 2024, as they gathered in support of the proposal to legalize euthanasia in the UK. — AFP
UK religious leaders united on Sunday to express their 'deeply concerned' stance on draft legislation to legalize assisted dying, which MPs will vote on this week. Two new polls conducted ahead of Friday's parliamentary vote revealed that a majority of Britons favor changing the assisted dying laws. The House of Commons will hold a free vote on Labour lawmaker Kim Leadbeater's private member's bill, enabling MPs to vote according to their conscience. If approved, the legislation, which would only apply to England and Wales, will proceed to further votes in both chambers of parliament. This issue, last debated in 2015 when MPs overwhelmingly rejected altering the law, has raised concerns among religious groups and other opponents regarding its potential implications.
A joint letter signed by 29 faith leaders cautioned that a 'right to die' could 'all too easily' result in vulnerable individuals feeling a 'duty to die'. 'Our pastoral roles make us deeply concerned about the impact the bill would have on the most vulnerable, opening up the possibility of life-threatening abuse and coercion,' they wrote in the letter published in The Observer newspaper. 'This is a concern we know is shared by many people, with and without faith.' The letter's signatories included the Anglican Bishop of London, the Catholic Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, and Britain's Chief Rabbi.
The intervention came just hours after Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood became the latest senior minister to join the contentious debate, arguing that the state should 'never offer death as a service'. Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated his opposition to the legislation, warning earlier this month that it could lead to cuts in other services. Several other senior ministers have indicated their support for the bill. Despite the country's most senior civil servant reminding the cabinet last month that they 'should not take part in the public debate' given the government's neutral stance on the bill, public comments have continued.
The proposed law would mandate that a patient's wish to die be approved by a judge and two doctors, and be restricted to those with six to 12 months to live. A YouGov poll released on Friday indicated strong majorities across all demographic groups in favor of legalizing assisted dying. Another survey by the More in Common think tank of 15,000 people, reported by The Sunday Times, found nearly two-thirds in favor, with only 13 percent opposed. Euthanasia remains illegal in Britain, although it is practiced to varying degrees in some European countries.
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