Two experts in the field of palliative medicine are warning against the misrepresentation of the law and the manipulation of public opinion by those seeking to legalise assisted suicide.

In a letter to The Daily Telegraph, Dr. Idris Baker, National Clinical Lead for Palliative and End of Life Care in Swansea, argued that a change in the law is not appropriate or necessary as the law already gives control to people nearing death.

He wrote: “It’s simply not true that people are denied control at the end of their lives under the current law. The law is framed to give clear rights to refuse unwanted intervention. [It is not] true that people can’t be open about their wishes.”

Dr. Baker highlighted the frank conversations that are held frequently between people with life-shortening illnesses and their doctors.

He said that the real issue should be addressing the current difficulties people face when seeking end-of-life care.

“What’s needed is for society to act on that and to treat this problem as an urgent priority, not for us to dodge the issue by telling ourselves that a hastened death is the only fit response.”

Manipulated polls

Professor Katherine Sleeman, Laing Galazka Chair in Palliative Care at King’s College London, also writing to The Daily Telegraph, emphasised the care that needs to be taken when interpreting the results of polls that suggest increased public support for the legalisation of assisted suicide.

A recent Telegraph poll allegedly showed that 84 per cent of the public expressed support for assisted dying.

Professor Sleeman advised caution, observing that polls are sensitive to context and can be easily manipulated.

She said: “In 2014, a ComRes/Care poll showed that, while 73 percent of those asked agreed with the legalisation of assisted dying, 42 percent of them changed their minds when arguments against assisted dying – such as people feeling pressured to end their lives so as not to be a burden on loved ones – were explained to them.”

Professor Sleeman also stressed the effect of terminology on the results of these polls:

“In 2013, a Gallup survey found that support fell from 73 percent to 51 percent when terminology changed from ‘end the patient’s life by some painless means’ to ‘assisting the patient to commit suicide’.”

The pressure to choose death

SPUC’s Deputy CEO, John Deighan, said: “Offering vulnerable people the choice to end their lives creates unacceptable pressure for them to choose death.

“This can be seen in jurisdictions where it is legal – for example, in Washington State in the US, where 56 percent of people who were killed by assisted dying said that one reason for them choosing death was being a burden on family, friends and caregivers.

“We must work to enhance life for sick, disabled and elderly people, not pass a law that offers them death as a solution to their problems.”