Lisa Cameron MP (SNP), Mary Glindon MP (Labour), Derek Thomas MP (Conservative), Dr Whitehouse
An event organised by SPUC in the House of Commons has received cross party support with MPs from across the political spectrum in attendance. SNP MP Lisa Cameron, who hosted the event, said: "I know my parliamentary colleagues found the presentation very informative, and I hope it will persuade many to seriously consider the implications of and their position on legalizing assisted dying."
The highly succesful event, "Palliative care not assisted suicide", took place in the House of Commons on the 25th of February and was attended by 24 MPs from across the political spectrum, with others sending representatives,
Dr Dominic Whitehouse, a doctor working in palliative care, addressed the event with a presentation regarding both his opposition to legalisation of assisted suicide and his own experience in caring for patients at the end of life.
Ms Cameron said: "I was delighted to host Dr Whitehouse to speak in Parliament, and I commend SPUC for arranging it. Debating matters of life and death is one of the most important things we do as MPs, and it was excellent getting this insight from a doctor who works at the front line of these issues.
"Dr Whitehouse spoke compellingly on how legalising assisted suicide would affect vulnerable patients, the medical profession, and society as a whole.
"I know my parliamentary colleagues found the presentation very informative, and I hope it will persuade many to seriously consider the implications of and their position on legalizing assisted dying."
Palliative care not Assisted suicide
The presentation delivered by Dr Whitehouse discussed how offering people the choice to end their lives creates a pressure for them to die.
In Washington state in 2018, 51% of people killed by assisted suicide said that being a burden on family and friends was a reason to end their life. 54% of those killed by assisted suicide in Oregon provided the same response.
Addressing those in attendance, Dr Whitehouse said: "I have shown you why legalisation of physician assisted suicide would be a bad idea, and likely to harm patients, doctors and the public at large, and shown you how, on the other hand, good palliative care, properly funded, and equitably available, is the humane answer to suffering at the end of life. It should be our promise to our citizens at the end of their lives whenever they need it."
Is there an assisted suicide threat in the UK?
Assisted suicide has already been debated in this Parliament, in a Westminster Hall debate led by Christine Jardine MP. During that debate, many MPs on both sides of the argument mentioned the importance of palliative care.
A 2019 poll by the Royal College of Physicians found that of palliative medicine physicians eligible to vote, 84.3% oppose a change in the law, and 84.4% are not prepared to actively participate in physician assisted suicide.