The Bill involves no expert psychological assessment to detect whether the person wants to die because of their illness, or for some other reason, such as depression – there is no requirement for a psychiatrist to see the person at all. This means that the safeguards for assisted death are weaker than those for living organ donors.
In fact, it doesn’t even require the medical professionals or the panel to ask a patient why they want to die. As long as they meet the medically questionable threshold of the six-month prognosis, they are eligible.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists is also clear that the mental capacity test simply isn’t good enough – using a law that was never designed for a decision to end life. In particular, allowing people as young as 18 to choose an assisted death is out of step with evidence on brain development and the fact that local authorities have a duty to young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) until the age of 25.
A law that offers assisted death for anyone who becomes ill enough also sends a message about whose lives we consider worth living. Disabled people are clear that they often find others judge their quality of life to be of less value. This Bill risks reinforcing that concern.
Many disabled people and disability rights organisations oppose this Bill, and their voices deserve to be heard.
“I think it’s a dangerous Bill. It’s certainly not the right time for it. I think disabled people are very understandably extremely worried about where we are right now.”
— Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson · CBCEW