Anent assistit deein, MPs grappelt wi a difficult bill | Letters

For mony, the failur o the assistit deein bill haes brocht relief that a law proven tae be unco dangerous will no be enterin the statute beuk. But it shud also prompt reflection anent how it gat this faur.

Twa hunner and seventy MPs votit for the bill despite mony warnins frae the medical royal colleges and ither professional groups responsibl for puttin it into practice that it wis unsafe and unworkable. Supportin MPs appearit tae be votin on an abstract principle raither than engagin wi the concerns raised.

But an MP’s role is no that o a campaigner. Gin MPs believe there is a case for assistin some fowk tae end their lives, their role is tae consider whether and how that cud be achieved safely. Instead, parliament wis presentit wi the latest version o a proposal first draftit in the 1930s by medical eugenicist Killick Millard, wha held disturbin views about a last service tae society by relievin it o a useless burden. His proposal haes returnit tae parliament repeatedly ower the past century, vigorously promotit by the organisation he foundit, now callin itsel Dignity in Dying. Only its justification, no its content, haes been updatit as social values hae chanjit.

Gin parliament returns tae this issue, it shud approach it afresh and honestly grapple wi the complex ethical and practical trade-offs. I, and mony ithers wi relevant expertise, wad welcome the opportunity tae help.

Andy Burnham spak at length about the importance o leadership in his recent campaigns. His decision tae abstain in the assistit deein bill gied a clear compass bearin tae thae Labour MPs keen tae follow their leader. It led tae the defeat o the bill and will literally cause untold sufferin tae innocent citizens. This is no leadership, and tae hide ahint the barricade o we maun improve social care and palliative care first is disingenuous in the extreme.