Assisted Dying

Dear constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about assisted dying. This is a complex and emotive issue and I know there are strongly held ethical and moral views on both sides of the debate. I appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective.

As you may know, the Government has no plans to review the law on assisted dying. Any change to the law in this area would be a matter of conscience for individual MPs.

Successive governments have taken the view that Parliament should decide on this issue. I agree with this approach. However, I also believe that a call for further evidence or an independent inquiry into the existing law would assist the broader debate.

As part of the discussion on this matter, we must ensure that there will always be thorough and transparent consultation with the public and faith groups, and physicians and wider healthcare professionals must always be fully involved.

I would like to emphasise that assisted dying should not be an alternative to high-quality palliative and end of life care. People deserve dignity in dying, and each person nearing the end of their life should feel confident and safe in the knowledge they will receive the very best care and be supported to die as peacefully and as painlessly as possible.

The Government said any future debate on assisted dying should include evidence from clinicians, values-based and faith-based evidence from those who have a particular view on this subject, and evidence of the personal choices of those approaching end of life.

I understand that, following a recent meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Choice at the End of Life, the Health Secretary has asked the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for more data on suicides by terminally ill people and the possible impact of the ban on assisted dying.

It is vital that MPs continue to consider the views that people hold on this important matter. I assure you I will bear in mind the points you have raised.

Thank you once again for contacting me and for sharing your views.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Dowd MP