The Bishop of London has expressed her concerns regarding the issue of assisted dying following the introduction of a new bill in the House of Lords.
On Friday, Lord Falconer Thoroton read out his Private Member’s Bill – the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill.
This proposed legislation would permit terminally ill adults with six months or fewer to live to receive medical assistance in ending their lives. The bill stipulates that only individuals deemed "mentally able to make the decision" could opt for this option, and their choice would need approval from two doctors and the High Court.
Rt Rev Sarah Mullaly, who also serves as the joint lead bishop on healthcare for the Church of England, commented: "Throughout my long career in the NHS as a nurse, every day I could see the paramount importance of compassion and dignity for those coming towards the end of their lives.
“In the Church of England, we believe that the priority for those who are terminally ill must be to provide urgent funding and resourcing of palliative care services, to ensure the highest possible standards of care for all. This should include action to ensure that our hospices receive the level of state funding that they are so badly lacking at present.
"However, no amount of safeguards could ensure the safety of the most vulnerable in society, should there be a change in the law allowing for assisted suicide. We believe that there would be unintended, serious and fundamental consequences for the whole of society, especially for those who are at the most vulnerable point of their lives, and for those who love and care for them."
Private Members' Bills rarely pass in the House of Lords, but Lord Falconer hopes a similar bill will be introduced in the Commons, where it might have better prospects. For the bill to become law, the government must allocate debate time, a commitment made by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. He has also promised that MPs will have a free vote, allowing them to decide based on personal beliefs.
Meanwhile, Scotland, Jersey, and the Isle of Man are also advancing assisted dying legislation. A bill from Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur is set for debate in the Scottish Parliament this autumn. In the Isle of Man, a bill backed by two-thirds of the House of Keys will be considered by the Legislative Council.