On the 11th September, a bill will come to the House of Commons which will seek to introduce Assisted Dying and as your MP it is my intention to attend and vote on this issue. The bill would enable competent adults who are terminally ill to choose to be provided with medically supervised assistance to end their own life.
I have received numerous letters and emails from people who have strong views on this issue. Leading up to the General Election I made several commitments. One of these was to hold constituency referendums on significant issues before I cast my vote in Parliament. As this is an issue that divides opinion, I felt it was important to seek the views of those I represent before I vote on this particular bill.
All those who take part in the referendum will be kept informed of how I voted and my reasoning for doing so. However, as I have made clear in the past, I will not be bound by the outcome of the referendum as I am your elected representative and not a delegate.
This process should enable local people to be much more connected with the important decisions made on their behalf. Inevitably, some will be disappointed by how I vote, although I hope they will understand my reasoning for doing so.
You can take part in this consultation by completing a survey which can be accessed here and following the instructions.
Just to be clear. I will use all the responses to help me gauge public opinion but the decision on which way I vote will be mine and mine alone. I will however, and uniquely I think, contact you after the debate and the vote to update you on the outcome.
Thank you for taking the time to be a part of this process and I hope you will find it useful.
I dread the thought of reaching old age with some illness that makes the quality of my life unacceptable. I belive some basic safeguards and a cooling off period should be included
i agree with the Assisted Dying Bill and as long as the processes put in place are sensible and followed then at least no one need fear being kept alive for the sake of it. I hope if I am in that position then my end can be peaceful and dignified. I am asking you to vote in favour of the bill.
We understand and sympathise with the difficulties people can face but feel that this is one step too far for the vulnerable.
We believe only God has the power to give and take life
Mike and Jane Evans
I am in favour of Assisted Dying being available for people who so wish to take this path if their quality of life is unacceptable and they are suffering from conditions with no respite.
My husband keith and I are both in favour of assisted dying for people who are of sound mind who are living wish a dreadful illness which is affecting their life and are finding it hard to keep living because it is becoming unbearable.
We are both in favour of the right for assisted dying. A & P Hudson
We say yes to the right to die
We are both in favour of the right for assisted dying. D & S Nance
We have both discussed assisted dying and both agreed we would not let each other suffer or let are kids take care of us seen to much of it so I have already looked into the digitalise hospital also on line for tablets we both live an active healthy life at 70 & 73
I am in favour of the right for assisted dying.
This Bill will endanger those who feel that life isn’t worth living and need a helping hand to live. It makes no sense for society to safeguard against suicide in general while simultaneously permitting some to take their own lives. This Bill is dangerous and pretends that autonomy is something available to those suffering terribly – this simply ignores the reality of life for people with disabilities. In reality, those who want to die are often despairing about their lives and feel burdensome on the friends families and caregivers. These people need our help.
this bill l feel will put presure on the elderly and vunrable people in our society to end their lives.it is not right to take life.
The circumstances under which permission is granted should be extraordinary rather than routine. Typical figures for the whole of the UK (after the initial balloon burst of existing candidates) should be 10 or 12 per year. The route to make this decision should be extremely tortuous involving medical, psychiatric and legal ratification. It should be made impossible for a decision to be pushed through for expediency or for financial reasons.
I think you’d be hard pushed to find many people who disagree with the enactment of an Assisted Dying Bill.
Having watched my mother go through years of utter discomfort, torment and despair, in spite of the best efforts of the National Health Service, to whom I and the rest of my family are eternally grateful, there came a time, when, IMO, it would’ve been kinder to have “let her go!”
For myself, I dread the prospect of going through anything similar and wouldn’t hesitate to ask to be allowed to die at a time of my choosing.
Of course, safeguards must be kept in place and no human being pressurized into assisted dying without their consent and offered the best palliative care should they so choose.
It’s something upon we could make a decision early in life and review at any stage we desired and it shouldn’t have to be just about “old age” situations.
There are certain diseases and conditions I wouldn’t wish to go through at any stage of my adulthood.