On May 12th 2006 the House of Lords voted down Lord Joffe's Private Member's Bill, Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill proposed by Lord Joffe. RADAR is strongly against this Bill, which Lord Joffe has vowed to re-introduce in the new session, and has produced a booklet detailing the key facts about Assisted Dying, and profiling personal stories from disabled people against the proposed legislation.
RADAR asks everyone interested in disability issues to take a moment to consider the consequences for disabled people of adopting assisted dying legislation. This Bill runs the risk of reinforcing public opinion that disabled people are somehow tragic figures to be pitied, and serves to diminish the value that society places on the lives of disabled people.
RADAR is also concerned that the lack of choice currently available to disabled and terminally ill people, due to a lack of palliative care services and independent living, means that individuals are not able to make a truly fair and equal choice about assisted dying.
Assisted dying legislation will not create autonomy until supported independent living is a real societal value and a reality for disabled people. Before there is a right to die, there must be a right for disabled people to live as full and equal members of a fair society.
If you would like to be involved in campaigning with RADAR against assisted dying in your locality, please contact chris.brace@radar.org.uk.
To read the proceedings of the House of Lords debate, click here.
To download the Assisted Dying booklet, click here.