Ahead of parliament debating a law to introduce assisted dying, church and Christian leaders have signed a letter opposing plans.
The Evangelical Alliance, along with member organisations; CARE and the Christian Medical Fellowship, have backed the letter. It is also signed by many others including the leaders of the Christian Institute, Christian Concern, and national leaders from a wide range of networks and denominations.
The letter is open for any leaders of churches or Christian organisations to sign in by Monday, 25 November, when the final letter and signatories will be published.
The leaders say in their appeal to Members of Parliament: “This bill, in our view, undermines the value of life and lacks the safeguards needed to protect those most at risk from being coerced into premature death.”
As Christian leaders the letter makes clear that they have both principled opposition to the plans due to their beliefs, but also significant practical concerns about how it would work and the impact on the most vulnerable.
The proposed law raises some of the most foundational ethical and moral issues for society and as the leaders note: “By prioritising individual choice, we risk ignoring the broader consequences on healthcare professionals who commit to act for the good of their patients, on family members burdened with the aftermath, and on wider society.”
The letter goes on to consider some of the practical issues involved, how it will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable in society and how funding of palliative care is fragile, and provision is patchy. International evidence is also considered, and with that, the prospect of normalising suicide and the potential for access to an assisted death to be widened in the future.
Perhaps most significant among the concerns raised by these leaders in their letter is the potential for this new law to lead to the most vulnerable in society being coerced or unduly influenced into ending their life prematurely. This pressure might be explicit, but it could also encourage people close to death that they would be less of a burden if they pursued this route.
The letter concludes by urging MPs to vote against the bill on 29 November as it fails to protect the most vulnerable in society.
Parliament set to debate and vote on legalising assisted dying in England and Wales
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will have its second reading on 29 November. Learn what’s being proposed and how to engage your local MP ahead of the debate.
