Where does everyone stand on this issue? I believe they’re voting on it very soon

Interestingly I had this exact discussion with a group of friends last weekend! I think it should definitely be permitted, but privately rather through the state.

I always think this is a discussion that needs to be had

 

As an overarching stance - I think people should be given the option to be allowed to die, however controls need to be in place to ensure this isn’t abused (e.g manipulation by others)

 

A few years ago I had two very close family members get really ill. The first continuously said she wanted to die and basically went on hunger strike more than once. The other made a decision to leave hospital, knowing they would go into multiple organ failure within hours. In these situations I think it’s perfectly understandable that people would want their own pain to just end. Yes it sucks for the people left behind, although I would say with the first example, when she went there was a feeling of closure/relief that followed

I don't see why not, they've got robust safeguards in the bill and two independent doctors would need to verify if the patient is eligible.

 

It seems cruel and short-sighted to be against it imo, let's bring ourselves into the modern age.

Echoing the above, you should be allowed to say "this is the end" if you are in pain and it's almost certain you won't recover. As long as there are safeguards in place to prevent it being abused and to make sure the person is fit to make that decision, I see no reason why it shouldn't be legal.

This might be quite a sweeping statement but I do think the pushback will always be from people who have religious/faith based objections (similar to the anti-abortion argument).

I’m in favour to an extent but I also don’t trust it. I’ve seen the way some are more careless and fussy about elder people’s lives. I think a lot of older people can feel like a burden and this could be a sketchy carrot to dangle in front of them at the same time if someone truly wants to die and their life is hell it is insane to keep them alive. That’s just torture and if family and medical professionals and the person themselves all agree then it should be a possible avenue for them to go down. So i support it but still wouldn’t fully trust it at the same time.

I’m in favour to an extent but I also don’t trust it. I’ve seen the way some are more careless and fussy about elder people’s lives. I think a lot of older people can feel like a burden and this could be a sketchy carrot to dangle in front of them at the same time if someone truly wants to die and their life is hell it is insane to keep them alive. That’s just torture and if family and medical professionals and the person themselves all agree then it should be a possible avenue for them to go down. So i support it but still wouldn’t fully trust it at the same time.

 

This is the issue. Just because someone says they want to do it doesn’t mean they actually want it. It could easily be someone manipulating them into saying it for your own gain. This is why you’d need a safeguarding element in place, with full assessments to try and confirm no outside influence

The proposed legislation has a lot of safeguards in place, it's not just something that can just be done out of the blue. It's an end to suffering, and people absolutely have a right to that.

The fact that Leadbeater is the one leading the bill has made me more positively inclined towards it than I would otherwise, she's certainly one of the MPs I trust more in parliament and my instinct is she's determined to get this right.

 

The bill is entirely focused on mentally sound terminally ill adults making an informed choice, in these sorts of situations it prevents more suffering, so in those cases I'm good with it. I am edgy about any legalised dying, but under specific circumstances, where our medicine can only painfully delay, not fix, the inevitable, that's fine.

 

I don't feel too strongly on it either way though as this is one of the rare commonly debated political issues where both sides do have legitimate points.

It should be allowed. The proposal includes sufficient safeguards.

The fact you need a Court Order for approval rather than just two doctors’ signatures has tipped me from “undecided” to “in favour”, although I don’t envy the MPs having to make this decision.

Edited November 28, 2024Nov 28 by chartjack2

If tomorrow’s vote is in favour of the bill, that is not the end of the matter. There will be further discussion on the details. Therefore, I would vote in favour of the bill tomorrow. I would reserve the right to change my mind when the final detailed legislation, after any amendments, came before the Commons

 

I support the general principle. In some ways, I think it is too restrictive. However, that wouldn’t lead me to vote against this bill.

The Ch4 drama ‘True Love’ was very good about this earlier this year!

MPs voted in favour 330-275 with Starmer voting in favour and Corbyn against

@1862507730680041474

 

really diverse range of 'for's and 'against' (Starmer, Sunak, Anderson & Denyer vs Badenoch, Patel, Farage, Corbyn & Abbott!!), Parliament should do free votes more often. Like there's a very vague correlation between establishment vs anti-establishment MPs but not 100% by a long shot.

 

Underscores how difficult of a decision this was though, somber moment in the chamber as the results were read out.

Happy to see the bill passed. The first step in a long process - it will come under more scrutiny and likely be rejigged slightly but for the most part allowing terminally ill patients the dignity to die peacefully should be something legal. It's sad seeing people with terminal illness suffer so much pain and waste away (a few personal experiences with this). The safeguards in the bill should help avert any pressuring of people to die and the bill may see even more strict safeguards in place before becoming law.

 

I think one of the biggest benefits will be that people no longer will be criminalised for joining loved ones that decide to go off to other places to die by choice peacefully.

It is interesting the mix of people from the political spectrum and the way they voted.

 

Think a bit like abortion it’ll happen anyway so why not legislate for it to happen in this country in a safer environment.

Yes, everything should be a free vote. I hate the concept of a ‘whip’ or being forced to vote and defend something you don’t even agree with. That’s transparently fake and it’s why politicians seem out of touch and get corrupted easy

Interestingly I think what happened with the de facto legislation of abortion is the main concern people have over this. I think the vast majority of people agree with the principle, you wouldn't let a dog suffer in that way as the saying goes.

 

All abortion in the UK is bound by the 1967 abortion act which means there must be a reason for abortion given and two independent doctors must be satisfied that it meets the conditions given in the act. In reality these conditions are interpreted very liberally to the point that abortion is considered to be universally legalised. The only concern I have seen raised in opposition to this online is that the authorising will be treated as a similar formality and it will 'open the floodgates' to coercion. The cultural memory of the Shipman case plays into this a lot, I think opposition would be a lot quieter if that had never happened.