The Bishop of London opposes the assisted dying Bill

The Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, speaks in the House of Lords opposing the assisted dying Bill.

Transcript

00:00The Bishop of London's Commons come as the Assisted Dying Bill currently makes its way

00:07through Parliament. It's cleared the House of Commons in June by 314 votes to 291.

00:15The law would allow assisted dying for terminally ill patients in England and in Wales.

00:21Adults over 18 and expected to die within six months would be eligible. Supporters argue it

00:29allows choice and relieves unnecessary suffering for those who are terminally ill. Highlighting

00:37safeguards to prevent abuse. Supporters and backers of the bill have also described it as one of the

00:45safest in the world, requiring an application for an assisted death to be approved by two doctors

00:54and an expert panel. Opponents to the bill raise worries about pressure on vulnerable people,

01:01possible negative impacts on disabled people and the message it sends about the value of life,

01:10plus concern that practical safeguards and palliative care funding remain unclear.

01:17As Baroness May has just pointed out, to change the law is to change society.

01:27Any law that introduces choice for a few is not limited in its effect to only that few. If passed,

01:36this bill will signal that we are a society that believes that some lives are not worth living.

01:42This bill would become our state-endorsed position and our NHS would be active in its delivery.

01:51It is the role of this House to scrutinise, but there are no amendments to this bill that can safeguard

01:57us completely from its negative effects. I am concerned for those who will face internal and subtle

02:04pressure to end their lives in the absence of adequate palliative and social care,

02:11or to avoid being a burden to their families. I understand the fear of many that they may be

02:18offered pre-assisted death before they are offered the care and equipment that they may live.