Dame Esther Rantzen led a chorus of dismay after a long-awaited report by MPs on assisted dying produced no clear findings or proposals.
The inquiry, carried out by the Health and Social Care Committee, was designed to ‘provide a basis for discussion’ about whether the law should be changed.
But the committee stopped short of calling for a debate in the House of Commons, which would allow MPs to air their disagreements on existing legislation before voting.
Instead, it was recommended that the government consider how to respond if steps are taken to enshrine assisted dying into law in parts of Britain.
Although it is currently illegal here, several dependent territories – including Jersey and the Isle of Man – have taken steps to legalize it.
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Dame Esther Rantzen, 83, who was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer last year, led a chorus of consternation after a long-awaited report by MPs on assisted death failed to produce clear findings or proposals
It comes after broadcaster John Dimbleby said Britain’s law against medically assisted death is “increasingly intolerable” following the death of his brother.
Meanwhile, the committee called on the government to ensure universal access to palliative care for the terminally ill after hearing evidence of ‘patchy’ end-of-life provision.
Dame Esther, who has stage four lung cancer and has registered for the Dignitas assisted dying clinic in Switzerland, called the report ‘very disappointing’.
She said: ‘Many of us feel it is time for this country to catch up with best practice abroad, and the only way to achieve that is a good debate in Parliament with a free vote at the end of it.
‘I am deeply disappointed that this report – which many of us have been waiting for – does not make that recommendation.
‘I’m afraid it was a missed opportunity in many ways.
‘If they had said ‘we urgently need a parliamentary debate and a free vote’, that might have fit into my own timetable, but that is not the case.’
Dame Esther’s comments were echoed by campaigners for a change in the law, who warned potential MPs to ‘listen to the public mood’.
Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying, said: “Assisted dying will be a key issue for candidates running in the general election.
‘The next generation of MPs must listen to the public mood and finally break the deadlock on assisted dying.
‘If MPs can take only one thing from the mountains of evidence uncovered in this inquiry, it is that the current assisted dying law is unsafe and woefully inadequate.
“Maintaining the status quo in the face of so much obvious, devastating harm – while the laws for assisted dying abroad continue to operate safely – is the most dangerous decision Westminster can make.”
Under the law in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, assisting suicide is punishable by up to 14 years in prison. There is no specific crime in Scotland.
Meanwhile, campaigners opposing a relaxation of the law on assisted dying criticized MPs’ report for ‘failing’ to reach a definitive conclusion.
Dr. Gordon Macdonald, CEO of Care Not Killing, said: ‘At a time when we have seen how fragile our healthcare system is, how underfunding is putting pressure on services, access to specific treatments and when the amazing hospice movement in Britain is facing is being hit with a £100 million fine in the funding crisis, MPs could have decided to firmly close the door on assisted suicide and euthanasia…
“They failed.”
The survey has received more than 68,000 responses from members of the public since its launch in December 2022, and more than 380 pieces of written evidence have been submitted.
The committee said: ‘The UK Government should consider how to respond to another jurisdiction in Britain, or the Crown Dependencies, legislating to allow assisted dying/assisted suicide (AD/AS), and how this could may affect jurisdictions that do not allow this. .
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‘Following the recommendation of the Jersey Citizens’ Assembly, it appears increasingly likely that at least one jurisdiction under the British and Crown Dependencies will allow AD/AS in the near future and that Ministers should be actively involved in discussions on how to differentiate between situation must be addressed. legislation.
‘The government must ensure universal coverage of palliative and end-of-life services, including hospice care at home.
‘It is important that everyone can choose what type of support they need at the end of their life, and that their advanced care plan is honored where possible.’ Number 10 has previously said it is up to Parliament whether or not to re-debate the legalization of assisted dying.
Rishi Sunak said earlier this month that any change in the law should come from a free vote in parliament, with the government facilitating the outcome.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer, who backed a change in the law in 2015, went further in December when he said a private members bill and a free vote “seems appropriate”.
The report said there was an ‘urgent need’ for better mental health care for terminally ill people, and recommended that the government commission research into the subject and report to parliament.
MPs said there should be a ‘national strategy for death literacy and support after a terminal diagnosis’ to help healthcare professionals better support a dying person and their loved ones.
Steve Brine, chairman of the Health and Social Care Committee, said: ‘The inquiry into assisted death and assisted suicide highlighted the most complex issues we have faced as a committee, with strong feelings and opinions in the evidence we heard.
“It is our intention that the information and testimony we present in our report today will have a lasting legacy and, as we set out in the original mandate, will be an important and useful source for future debates on this issue. That could of course be during this Parliament, or after the next general election.’