Summary of evidence to Lords on Leadbeater Bill

A House of Lords Select Committee has finished taking evidence from dozens of expert witnesses on Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide Bill – and its failings are becoming ever more obvious.

Over the last three weeks, leading doctors, psychiatrists, social workers, disability advocates and lawyers repeatedly warned that the Bill, which applies to England and Wales, is dangerous and unworkable. Even representatives of organisations neutral on assisted suicide – including the Royal Colleges of Physicians, Psychiatrists, GPs, Pathologists and Nursing – highlighted major gaps in safeguarding and oversight.

Coercion was a consistent theme. Peers were told it is often impossible to rule out pressure on vulnerable people, particularly where domestic abuse or fear of being a burden are involved.

Others sounded the alarm over lethal drugs, the unreliable six-month prognosis requirement and the deadly implications for palliative care and suicide prevention. Former Chief Coroner Thomas Teague KC said the Bill’s provision for assisted suicides to sidestep coroners' investigations was “frankly absurd”.

Paralympian Baroness Grey-Thompson described the Bill as a direct threat to disabled people. The Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Alasdair Henderson warned it could even breach the right to life under Article 2 of the European Convention, echoing Tom Cross KC’s argument in his analysis for the Institute.

The Select Committee reports next week, before the Bill moves to Committee of the Whole House on Friday (14 November), when detailed amendments will be considered. Hundreds have already been tabled, making it highly unlikely that the four days currently scheduled for Committee will be enough.

Meanwhile, in Scotland, a committee of MSPs started deliberating amendments to Liam McArthur’s Bill on Tuesday (4 November). A dozen proposals were rejected, including even basic ‘safeguards’ against coercion and a requirement to limit eligibility to those given less than six months to live.

Please continue to pray that these dangerous Bills will never reach the statute book.

From the Christian Institute https://www.christian.org.uk/campaign/assisted-suicide/