Credit: Wikimedia Commons

On 25 November, in a landmark decision, The States Assembly of Jersey voted by 36 to 10 in support of the principle of legalising assisted dying for citizens of the island. The vote is an important step towards the introduction of legislation on the island and a victory for assisted dying campaigners across Britain.

Whilst legislation is currently being considered in both the House of Lords and the Scottish Parliament which would legalise assisted dying for the terminally ill, Jersey has voted for a more inclusive approach which extends to the terminally ill as well as individuals with an incurable physical condition resulting in unbearable suffering. This distinction has long divided assisted dying campaigners, with the legislation proposed in Jersey closely reflecting the aims of My Death My Decision.

This decisive vote comes on the back of the results of the Citizen’s Jury which published its findings on 16 September 2021, and which found that an overwhelming majority of 78% were in favour of changing the law. Citizens Juries or Assemblies are used to engage citizens on a wide range of issues and can be used to inform Government policy and legislation. The Jury was selected at random and consisted of 23 residents who reflect the demographics of the island.

Draft legislation will be debated by the States Assembly in Jersey next year with ratification likely to take place in 2023. This would make Jersey the first jurisdiction in the British Isles and Channel Islands to legalise assisted dying.

Trevor Moore, Chair of My Death, My Decision writes:

‘This news from Jersey is welcome indeed. My Death, My Decision have been supporting our colleagues in the Assisted Dying Coalition, End of Life Choices Jersey, in their campaign, and our board member Robert Ince, in his capacity as President of the International Association for Religious Freedom, gave evidence to the Citizens’ Jury that led to this parliamentary decision. It is welcome that the proposed legislation in Jersey will extend to the unbearably suffering as well the terminally ill. In Scotland assisted dying legislation is also currently being considered which would likely extend to all terminally ill people, without any arbitrary six months life expectancy time limit. It must therefore be only a matter of time before Westminster takes note and respects the overwhelming public support in England and Wales for assisted dying reform. My Death, My Death will continue to call for a parliamentary inquiry, so that politicians can hear – and test – evidence from around the world.’

Notes:

For any more information or comment please contact My Death, My Decision at: campaigns@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk.

Read more about My Death, My Decision’s campaign for an inclusive change in the law: https://www.mydeath-mydecision.org.uk/

My Death, My Decision is a grassroots non-profit organisation that campaigns for a balanced and compassionate approach to assisted dying in England and Wales. As a growing movement, we are at the forefront of social change: nearly 90% of the public now favours a change in the law to allow adults of sound mind, who are either terminally ill or facing incurable suffering, the option of a peaceful, painless, and dignified death.

Credit: UK Parliament. Parliamentary copyright images are reproduced with the permission of Parliament

Assisted dying campaigners have been pressing the Prime Minister to support Baroness Meacher’s Private Member’s Bill, which successfully passed its Second Reading in the House of Lords on 22 October. However, Boris Johnson recently went on the record indicating that he would not support the Bill if it was brought before the House of Commons.

If it were to become Law, Baroness Meacher’s Bill would legalise assisted dying for the terminally ill. However, it is difficult for Private Members’ Bills to become law because they are often not allocated adequate time by the Government to pass through all the necessary stages in Parliament. 

In the past, Boris Johnson has expressed a more supportive view of assisted dying reform, albeit limited to those with six months or fewer to live. In 2014, whilst Mayor of London, his column for the Telegraph states that “we know that it is humane – something we hope someone may have the kindness eventually to do to us, too.” This was in response to a similar Bill introduced at the time by Lord Falconer.

Earlier this year the Government also indicated it was exploring the impact of current legislation, when the former Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, requested more data from the Office of National Statistics regarding suicides by those who are terminally ill. This was in response to ONS statistics which suggested as many as 1 in 7 suicides in the UK is by someone that has been treated for cancer, neurological, heart or lung disease in the previous 12 months. Matt Hancock subsequently told the All-Parliamentary Party Group for Dying Well that it is important that the assisted dying debate is “as well informed as possible”. The Government has stated that it does not collect data on assisted dying in the UK. 

The Government’s official view is that any changes to assisted dying legislation should be an issue of individual conscience to be debated and decided in Parliament. However, the lack of Government support means it is unlikely that there would be an adequate opportunity for debate in the Commons should the Bill pass successfully through the House of Lords. Private Members’ Bills are often ‘timed-out’ as they cannot be carried over into subsequent Parliamentary sessions, but the Government can choose to allocate them more time if they would like to support the passing of the Bill. 

Baroness Meacher’s Bill is currently awaiting a date for its Committee Stage in the House of Lords after successfully passing its Second Reading.

Notes:

Read more about My Death, My Decision’s campaign for an inclusive change in the law: https://www.mydeath-mydecision.org.uk/

My Death, My Decision is a grassroots non-profit organisation that campaigns for a balanced and compassionate approach to assisted dying in England and Wales. As a growing movement, we are at the forefront of social change: nearly 90% of the public now favours a change in the law to allow adults of sound mind, who are either terminally ill or facing incurable suffering, the option of a peaceful, painless, and dignified death.

A British woman who has travelled to Switzerland to end her life has urged politicians to launch a parliamentary inquiry into assisted dying, as her last wish before she died. Her plea has been released by the campaign group My Death, My Decision to coincide with a worldwide ‘beacon of light’ initiative for the legalisation of assisted dying, organised by the World Federation of Right to Die Societies. 

Dawn Voice-Cooper, 76, a former mental health support worker from Kent, ended her life in the Swiss assisted dying facility Lifecircle on Thursday last week. 

She had been suffering from several incurable medical conditions, including chronic arthritis which made her incapable of walking more than a few feet without pain,and endured regular brain bleeds.. 

Dawn had been reluctant to end her life, but due to her rapidly deteriorating condition felt compelled to travel to Switzerland whilst she was physically capable of doing so.

Prior to her death, Dawn recorded a statement urging politicians to support her right to die and to launch a parliamentary inquiry into the law. Her appeal has been released as part of a worldwide initiative, where activists from more than 30 countries around the world have demanded the legalisation of assisted dying. 

It also follows shortly after a new YouGov poll, commissioned by the campaign group My Death, My Decision, found that for the first time ever a majority of MPs personally support the legalisation of assisted dying.  

Assisted dying is unlawful in England and Wales and those found guilty can face up to fourteen years’ imprisonment. 

Recently, a bill to legalise assisted dying for those with terminal illnesses passed its second reading in the House of Lords. However, this bill would not have covered those facing unbearable but non-life-threatening conditions such as Dawn. 

My Death, My Decision’s Chair Trevor Moore said: 

‘Dawn’s story underscores the cruel and indefensible nature of our existing laws on assisted dying. Yet tragically, her story is not unique. At least one Briton will now travel to Switzerland from the UK to end their lives every week. Many will choose to do so earlier than they would have otherwise wished, because they fear they will not be physically capable of doing so at a later date. 

‘Importantly, Dawn’s story also highlights the critical need for politicians not to lock those with incurably suffering outside of efforts to change the law on assisted dying. Under the House of Lords current proposals, people with unbearable suffering who have more than six months to live will not qualify for the choice of an assisted death. This means that the prospective law would not have helped Dawn, nor the thousands of other people in her situation. Nearly nine in ten (88%) members of the public agree that assisted dying should be available for either those suffering from terminal or incurable conditions. And according to the BMA members’ survey, a majority of medics would prefer a change in the law  inclusive of both the terminally ill and incurably suffering. 

‘Dawn’s heartfelt plea for a change in the law is therefore a timely reminder of the urgent need for politicians to pick up the baton left by brave campaigners before her, and to speak up for change on behalf of both those with terminal or incurable conditions.

‘As a longstanding member, campaigner, and friend of My Death, My Decision we are glad that Dawn has finally been able to find peace. But we urge lawmakers to ensure that she is the last case of someone forced to leave their home in the UK in order to do so. Now is the moment to change the law on assisted dying.’

In a statement before her death, Dawn said: 

‘I have all but lost my freedom of movement, and can no longer walk great distances. Even a short walk causes pain. I have to take a fair amount of medication each day. So far, I have managed without needing care support, but I know that in the near future, this will change. However, even the best care in the world would not alter the fact that it is just an endless, often difficult, and usually painful, daily management of several, incurable issues. My left arm is weakened, and I can no longer do much with it. Coupled with severe arthritis, it is both challenging and frustrating. More than that though, as a result of untreatable brain bleeds which could continue, I am losing the ability to express myself both verbally and in writing. 

‘My body is old, worn out, and failing. I am really fearful of being trapped in that body with no way out. It’s a horrible feeling, because I have always been independent.  I chose how to live my life; and now the suffering and sadness feel, at times, unbearable. I believe I should be able to choose how to die. My choice would be legal Assisted Dying in the UK. However, because this is not possible – and would not be possible for me, even if the bill proposed by Baroness Meacher is passed – I have applied, and been accepted, for an Assisted Death in Switzerland. A death that I and I alone choose and physically act on, and take sole responsibility for. But I have to go while I am still able to travel, and while I still have capacity. While I am still able to – alone and independently – release the drug into my system. The drug that will ease my way to a death of my choosing – a peaceful, pain free and dignified death.

‘Baroness Meacher, when asked about promoting a more inclusive policy on assisted dying states how difficult it’s been so far and how much opposition she meets. This makes sense, because many MPs have very little knowledge or understanding of assisted dying, it’s process and safeguards. That’s why I believe that Baroness Meacher’s Bill should be used as a spring board to call for a comprehensive Parliamentary inquiry into assisted dying. Such an inquiry could provide all the evidenced needed to enable MPs to make an informed choice when voting and in turn, create a fair and compassionate assisted dying law here in the UK.’

Notes:

For any more information or comment please contact Trevor Moore, My Death, My Decision’s Chair at trevor.moore@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or phone 07967 000546. 

Trevor Moore and Alex Pandolfo, who accompanied Dawn to Switzerland, are available for interview. 

Footage and photographs of Dawn Voice-Cooper, free for media use. 

Read more about My Death, My Decision’s campaign for an inclusive change in the law: https://www.mydeath-mydecision.org.uk/

My Death, My Decision is a grassroots non-profit organisation that campaigns for a balanced and compassionate approach to assisted dying in England and Wales. As a growing movement, we are at the forefront of social change: nearly 90% of the public now favours a change in the law to allow adults of sound mind, who are either terminally ill or facing incurable suffering, the option of a peaceful, painless, and dignified death.

A new survey has found that a majority of MPs (58%) personally believe assisted dying should be legalised, in at least some circumstances. It also found that nearly half of MPs (45%) would be willing to support a broader change in the law for those with Alzheimer’s disease. And MPs elected since 2019 are the most likely to favour reform. 

My Death, My Decision – who commissioned the poll and campaign to legalise assisted dying for people who are either terminally ill or incurably suffering – say the results show that the views of lawmakers are starting to catch up with public opinion.  

The YouGov survey asked 103 MPs about their personal views on whether assisted dying was correct in several different scenarios.

Unlike a recent survey – where 35% of MPs said they’d support assisted dying for the terminally ill but only 16% said they would for the incurably suffering – the latest poll specifically asked MPs whether they thought assisted dying was correct ‘irrespective of what you think has the best chances of becoming legislation’. 

The new survey also revealed that the strongest levels of support for assisted dying were amongst MPs elected since 2019. While 86% thought assisted dying was acceptable for those with six months to live, 69% also considered it acceptable in the broader case of someone with Alzheimer’s, in at least some circumstances. 

On 22 October, the House of Lords proposals to legalise assisted dying for those with six or fewer months left to live passed its second reading. The MDMD survey suggests that were these proposals debated in the House of Commons they would command a winning majority. As might a broader assisted dying law, if Parliamentarians could hear evidence from those countries that have taken that path.

My Death, My Decision’s Chair Trevor Moore said: 

‘The law prohibiting assisted dying has been way out of step with public opinion for several decades. Since an overwhelming majority of people believe that those suffering from terminal or incurable conditions deserve a say over the manner and timing of their own death, it is only our elected lawmakers who are the stumbling block for reform. They need to catch up.

‘As Parliament prepares to debate assisted dying for the first time in nearly half a decade, this survey suggests that opinion may finally have changed. It would be disappointing if MPs were to restrict the right to die for those with six months left to live – ignoring the broader view of both the medical profession and the overwhelming majority of the public. With nearly half of all MPs personally favouring a broader change in the law, and support for assisted dying at its strongest amongst newly elected MPs, it is to be hoped that a better appreciation of the issues gleaned from Parliamentary debate would swing the pendulum in favour of such a law.’

Notes:

For any more information or comment please contact My Death, My Decision’s Campaigns and Communications Manager at campaigns@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk.

YouGov Poll 

YouGov completed online interviews with a representative sample of 103 MPs. The survey was completed between 6 and 27 July 2021. Polling tables are available on request from campaigns@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk. 

MPs were asked ‘Irrespective of what you think has the best chances of becoming legislation, to what extent do you think it is acceptable for a doctor to assist a person to die in each of the following scenarios? In all cases, the person in question is mentally competent and has been approved by two doctors and an independent professional to ensure that they have made a free choice’. 

About Assisted Dying 

Helping someone to end their life is a criminal offence that carries a maximum sentence of 14 years and is prohibited by s2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961. 

According to a 2019 poll from the National Centre for Social Research, commissioned by My Death, My Decision, up to 88% of the public favour legalising assisted dying for people with six or fewer months to live and for people with Alzheimer’s, in at least some circumstances. 

Assisted dying is permitted or will soon become permitted in Austria, Canada, Colombia, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, New Zealand, 11 jurisdictions in the United States of America, and 4 states in Australia. 

On September 14 2021, the BMA voted to end its long-standing opposition to assisted dying. This followed on from its members’ survey in 2020, where half of all doctors said they personally supported legalising assisted dying. Moreover, if the law were to change, 59% of doctors felt patients with physical conditions causing intolerable suffering should be eligible; whereas only 24% thought assisted dying should be restricted to those likely to die within the next six months. 

On 22 October Baroness Meacher’s Assisted Dying [HL] Bill will receive its second reading. This will be the first time Parliament has debated proposals to legalise assisted dying since Rob Marris’ private members’ bill in 2015. Under the prospective law, doctors will be allowed to prescribe lethal medication to patients with less than six months to live, subject to a range of safeguarding including the consent of a High Court judge.

About My Death, My Decision 

My Death, My Decision is a grassroots not-for-profit campaign group, which advocates for a change in the law to allow those who are terminally ill or incurably suffering the option of a legal, safe, and compassionate assisted death. 

We were founded to represent the interests of those facing constant and unbearable suffering, at a time when no other right to die organisation would, and to advocate on their behalf to secure a lasting change in the law. We have quickly become one of the leading assisted dying organisations in England and Wales. We are advised by an expert medical group, are a founding member of the UK Assisted Dying Coalition, and are at the forefront of social change: nearly 90% of the public now favours a change in the law to allow assisted dying for those who are incurably suffering or terminally ill.

Plans to allow doctors to help terminally ill adults end their lives are closer to becoming law today, after a new Assisted Dying Bill passed its second reading in the House of Lords. My Death, My Decision, which campaigns to legalise assisted dying for those with either terminal or incurable conditions, has welcomed the Bill’s progress and the contributions from several peers who called for an expansion to include the incurably suffering. 

The Assisted Dying Bill was proposed as a Private Members’ Bill by Baroness Meacher, who is the Chair of the campaign group Dignity in Dying. Under her proposals, adults of sound mind in England and Wales would soon be allowed to request assistance to die if they had six or fewer months left to live. Each request would need the approval of two independent doctors and a High Court judge.

In a debate which lasted more than 8 hours, a majority of more than 100 peers spoke in support of changing the law on assisted dying. Contributions in support ranged from the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey; former Court of Appeal Judge Lord Etherton; former Supreme Court Judges Lord Mance and Lord Neuberger, who sat as judges during Paul Lamb and Jane Nicklinson’s judicial review in 2014; former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Blair; and former Scottish Conservative Party Leader Baroness Davidson.

A number of peers, including Lord Vison, Baroness Bakewell, and Lord Taverne, also highlighted cases of incurably suffering individuals who wouldn’t be covered by the Bill or called for it to go further by including the incurably suffering. Additionally, Lord Kerr of Kinlochard made special mention of My Death, My Decision’s 2021 Doran Lecture – delivered by the former Court of Appeal Judge Sir Stephen Sedley – when explaining his support for a change in the law on assisted dying.

Commenting on the second reading, My Death, My Decision’s Chair Trevor Moore said: 

‘The passage of this Bill’s second reading is a victory for the human rights and choices of those suffering from terminal illnesses. Although this Bill fails to address the important suffering of those with incurable conditions or more than six months to live, it does recognise that compassion and care should be at the heart of our end-of-life laws. And we wholeheartedly welcome the space it has created to put the voices and experiences of those with both terminal and incurable conditions at the forefront of our national debate. We are delighted by this Bill’s progress, but urge lawmakers not to forget about the anguish of those with incurable conditions when considering possible amendments in committee.’

Notes:

For any more information or comment please contact My Death, My Decision’s Campaigns and Communications Manager at campaigns@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk.

My Death, My Decision is a grassroots non-profit organisation that campaigns for a balanced and compassionate approach to assisted dying in England and Wales. As a growing movement, we are at the forefront of social change: nearly 90% of the public now favours a change in the law to allow adults of sound mind, who are either terminally ill or facing incurable suffering, the option of a peaceful, painless, and dignified death.

A final report detailing how assisted dying should be legalised has been published from Jersey’s citizens’ jury. The report follows on from an announcement earlier this year, in which 78% of jurors recommended the legalisation of assisted dying for adults who were terminally ill or suffering unbearably. My Death, My Decision has welcomed the publication for shining more light on the factors which led to the panel’s conclusions. 

The full report revealed that: 

• 69.6% of jurors thought assisted dying should be for adults with either a terminal illness or unbearable suffering 
• 59.1% believed that psychiatric illnesses should not constitute unbearable suffering 
• 65% believed that medical professionals should be able to assist or directly implement a patient’s wish to end their life. 

The panel also recommended a series of robust safeguards including the provision of a cooling off period and oversight from a judicial body or special panel. These proposals mirror the legislation recently passed in Spain and broadly align with the ambit of My Death, My Decision’s campaign. 

Earlier this year, 23 randomly selected islanders spent nearly 25 hours listening to experts both for and against assisted dying, and scrutinising their evidence. This included My Death, My Decision whose Director, Robert Ince, submitted evidence detailing how an individual’s personal faith need not prevent them from supporting a compassionate assisted dying law. 

Participants were also given an opportunity to express key messages that they wanted the Council of Ministers to consider. Contributions ranged from urging lawmakers to recognise that assisted dying was about ‘compassion and letting people die with dignity’; highlighting that ‘assisted dying in Jersey is not just a humane route but one that allows people the peace of mind in the last stages of their life whether they choose to use it or not; and noting that ‘With adequate criteria and safeguards in place, combined with robust reporting and scrutiny framework post event, there is no reason to believe the option would be abused’. 

Jersey’s States Assembly is expected to debate the findings in November or December.

Speaking on BBC Jersey’s breakfast programme, My Death, My Decision’s Chair Trevor Moore said: 

‘This report reflects what has been established in many public opinion polls, carried out both by My Death, My Decision and indeed our colleagues at End of Life Choices Jersey. 78% of the citizens’ jury support the idea of an assisted dying law for the terminally ill and the intolerably suffering. Our independent poll, carried out by NatCen, and the one carried out by End of Life Choice’s Jersey in fact had higher percentages than that… There has been a sea change in public opinion as well as in medical opinion too.’ 

‘Since 2015, certainly in Westminster where a Bill was last debated, a great deal has happened. Public opinion in support has doubled. Back then it was around 40% and now it is closer to 85-95%. But also, there is now a better understanding from countries around the world that have assisted dying laws – they have considerable experience which we can look at… My Death, My Decision is looking for a public inquiry at Westminster because we think that the best way for politicians to make a decision is to hear and scrutinise the evidence. Particularly from places where assisted dying laws are already in place.’

Notes:

For any more information or comment please contact My Death, My Decision’s Campaigns and Communications Manager at campaigns@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk.

Read the Full Citizens’ Jury’s report.

Read more about My Death, My Decision’s campaign for an inclusive change in the law: https://www.mydeath-mydecision.org.uk/

Jersey’s Citizens’ Jury was announced in February 2020 by Health Minister Deputy Richard Renouf. It followed an e-petition in 2018, backed by 1,861 islanders, calling for the States Assembly to amend Jersey’s law on assisted dying. The panel convened over a ten week period and heard from a range of experts, including My Death, My Decision. The question it considered was ‘Should assisted dying be permitted in Jersey, and if so, under what circumstances?’

The sessions were organised by the public participation charity Involve. They were commissioned to design and run the Jury including all of the participant liaison.

My Death, My Decision is a grassroots non-profit organisation that campaigns for a balanced and compassionate approach to assisted dying in England and Wales. As a growing movement, we are at the forefront of social change: nearly 90% of the public now favours a change in the law to allow adults of sound mind, who are either terminally ill or facing incurable suffering, the option of a peaceful, painless, and dignified death.

The UK’s largest professional body of doctors has voted to end its 15-year opposition to the legalisation of assisted dying. My Death, My Decision has welcomed the decision as a historic victory in the campaign for assisted dying.

By a margin of 149 to 145, members of the British Medical Association (BMA) voted to approve a motion stating ‘That this meeting believes, in order to represent the diversity of opinion demonstrated in the survey of its membership, the British Medical Association should move to a position of neutrality on assisted dying including physician assisted dying’ at its annual policy-making conference. This means that the BMA will now have a neutral stance on assisted dying, mirroring the positions of the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of Nursing, and Royal Society of Medicine. 

The vote happened after Dr Wendy Savage, a patron My Death, My Decision secured a members’ survey last year. It found that half of all doctors personally support legalising a right to die. What’s more, 59% of doctors think adults with physical conditions causing intolerable suffering should be allowed help to die. Whereas only 24% of doctors think a right to die should be restricted to those with six months left to live. 

This morning 103 doctors, including the leading brain surgeon Dr Henry Marsh and former Deputy Chief Medical Officer for NHS England Dr Graham Winyard, urged the BMA to end its opposition to assisted dying in a joint letter published in the Guardian. 

The news comes ahead of a parliamentary debate of Baroness Meacher’s Assisted Dying Bill next month. If passed, this law would allow doctors to prescribe lethal medication to patients with less than six months to live and who have a clear and settled wish to die, subject to safeguards. 

My Death, My Decision’s Chair Trevor Moore said: 

‘Today’s decision represents a historic milestone in the campaign to legalise assisted dying that will help to pave the way towards a future change in the law. In the fifteen years that the BMA has opposed assisted dying, the number of Brits travelling abroad to end their lives has increased six-fold, to at least one per week. Public support has soared in support of reform, with up to nine in ten people favouring assisted dying for terminally ill adults or those suffering with incurable conditions. What’s more, progressive countries, such as Canada, have demonstrated that changes in the law can be both compassionate and safe.

‘By adopting a neutral stance on assisted dying the BMA is now better placed to accurately represent the views of its members, and contribute their expertise to the debate. But, more importantly, they have also sent a clear signal that policymakers must not remain blind to the suffering caused by the current law any longer. We congratulate the BMA for its decision and now urge parliamentarians to move to change the law on assisted dying.’

Notes:

For further comment or information, media should contact My Death, My Decision’s Campaigns and Communications Manager at campaigns@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk. 

Read more about My Death, My Decision’s campaign for an inclusive change in the law: https://www.mydeath-mydecision.org.uk/

About the BMA’s stance on assisted dying

The British Medical Association has been opposed to assisted dying since 2006. In 2005, it was briefly neutral on the topic. On 14 September, with 302 representatives in attendance, the BMA voted to pass a motion which said: ‘That this meeting believes, in order to represent the diversity of opinion demonstrated in the survey of its membership, the British Medical Association should move to a position of neutrality on assisted dying including physician assisted dying.’ 149 of the representatives voted in support of the motion (49%), 145 voted against the motion (48%), and 8 abstained (3%).

Last year, the British Medical Association announced the outcome of its members’ survey on assisted dying. The survey was the result of a motion proposed by Dr Wendy Savage, the chair of the Islington Division of the BMA and a patron of My Death, My Decision. The BMA heard from almost 29,000 doctors and medical students and found 40% said the BMA should actively support a change in the law; 21% favoured neutrality; and 33% wanted to remain opposed. This totals 61% calling for the BMA to change its current hostile position on assisted dying.

The results also found that 50% personally believe that doctors should be able to prescribe life-ending drugs for patients to take themselves. Moreover, when asked who should be eligible for an assisted death if the law were to change, 59% felt that patients with physical conditions causing a terminal illness or intolerable suffering which cannot be relieved should be; whereas a further 24% thought only patients suffering from a condition likely to cause death in six months or less should be eligible.

About assisted dying

Helping someone to end their own life is a criminal offence under section 2 of the Suicide Act 1961, and those found guilty can face up to fourteen years’ imprisonment.

On October 22, the House of Lords will debate the second reading of Baroness Meacher’s private members’ bill. If passed her Bill would legalise assisted dying for adults of sound mind who have less than six months to live, subject to safeguards including requiring the consent of two doctors and a High Court judge.

Assisted dying for both the terminally ill and incurably suffering is supported by up to 88% of the public, according to an independent poll by NatCen in 2019.

Assisted dying is or will soon be legal for the terminally ill in New Zealand, Colombia, 11 jurisdictions in the United States and 3 Australian states. It is legal for those with either a terminal or incurable illness in Austria, Canada, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland.

About My Death, My Decision

My Death, My Decision is a grassroots non-profit organisation that campaigns for a balanced and compassionate approach to assisted dying in England and Wales. As a growing movement, we are at the forefront of social change: nearly 90% of the public now favours a change in the law to allow adults of sound mind, who are either terminally ill or facing incurable suffering, the option of a peaceful, painless, and dignified death.

Tony Nicklinson with his wife Jane

Marking the ninth anniversary of Tony Nicklinson’s death, My Death, My Decision is pleased to announce the winner of this year’s Tony Nicklinson memorial essay competition. Rees Johnson, a doctoral candidate at the University of Manchester currently researching the history of assisted dying, impressed the judges with his submission to the question: ‘In a society that wants legal assisted dying, who should be eligible for a right to die?’. 

Entries were assessed on their critical engagement with the moral issues raised by the question, and the quality/originality of their arguments. 

In addition to discussing the importance of mental capacity and assisted dying, Rees’ winning essay deftly highlighted the social and cultural context in which autonomous decision-making occurs. His essay also considered the ‘real crux … [of] whether there should be a time constraint on a qualification [of eligibility for assisted dying]; or whether only those with severe, terminal illness should qualify’. He concluded that whilst it may be politically expedient to impose such a requirement it is not ‘ethically or medically motivated’.  

My Death, My Decision’s Chair Trevor Moore said: 

‘Tony Nicklinson was a courageous man, whose fight to enshrine a right to die with dignity into law was an inspiration for us all. I am delighted that My Death, My Decision has been able to launch his award to honour his legacy and memory. I congratulate Rees for this thought-provoking and insightful essay, and thank everyone for their interest in this competition.’

Notes:

For any more information or comment please contact My Death, My Decision’s Campaigns and Communications Manager at campaigns@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk.

Read more about My Death, My Decision’s campaign for an inclusive change in the law: https://www.mydeath-mydecision.org.uk/

About The Tony Nicklinson Memorial Prize 

The Tony Nicklinson Memorial Prize is an essay competition sponsored by My Death, My Decision which is aimed at developing and fostering an interest in end-of-life choices and patient autonomy among students. The prize of £500 is aimed at trainees/ students (including undergraduates/ postgraduates/ doctoral candidates in medicine, allied healthcare professions, law, philosophy, and social sciences), and is in commemoration of the late right to die campaigner Tony Nicklinson. 

This year applicants were invited to submit an essay (with a maximum of 2000 words) on the theme of ‘In a society that wants legal assisted dying, who should be eligible for a right to die?’. 

Read this year’s winner by Rees Johnson. 

The winning candidate retains copyright ownership of their paper but has granted My Death, My Decision the non-exclusive right to publish the paper, in print and electronically, in their publications and other media. 

About Tony Nicklinson

Tony Nicklinson was a 58-year-old father of two, who became paralysed following a sudden stroke in 2004. His condition (locked-in syndrome) left him dependent upon around the clock care for almost every aspect of his life and in a state of constant pain. Although it was expected that Tony could have lived for a significant period of time, his condition would not have improved and he became determined not to spend the rest of his life in a state of increasing misery. In 2012, he challenged the UK’s laws on assisted dying which makes it a criminal offence to help someone to die, on pain of up to 14 years in prison, even if they are suffering incurably and wish to end their lives but cannot do so because they are physically incapable. Six days after the High Court dismissed his case, Tony ended his life via his only legal means: starving himself to death. In his honour, his wife, Jane, continued Tony’s legal case through to the UK Supreme Court alongside MDMD’s patron Paul Lamb, where a majority of the UK’s highest judges ruled the law potentially breached Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, but that Parliament should be given time to consider the matter before a definitive judicial ruling.

About My Death, My Decision

My Death, My Decision is a grassroots non-profit organisation that campaigns for a balanced and compassionate approach to assisted dying in England and Wales. As a growing movement, we are at the forefront of social change: nearly 90% of the public now favours a change in the law to allow adults of sound mind, who are either terminally ill or facing incurable suffering, the option of a peaceful, painless, and dignified death.