UK on ‘slippery slope’ to ‘death on demand’, warns Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood ahead of assisted dying vote | Politics news

The UK is on a “slippery slope to death on demand”, according to the Justice Secretary ahead of the House of Commons’ historic vote on assisted dying.

In a letter to her constituents, Shabana Mahmood said she was “deeply concerned” by the legislation.

“Unfortunately, recent scandals such as Hillsborough, tainted blood and Horizon Post Office have reminded us that the state and those acting on its behalf are not always benevolent,” she wrote.

“I have always been of the opinion that for this reason the state has a clear role to play. It should protect and preserve life, not take it away.

“The state should never offer death as a service.”

Analysis: Justice minister’s intervention could potentially embarrass the prime minister

On November 29, deputies will be asked to consider the issue of legalization assistance in dyingthrough the Kim Leadbeater Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

Details of the law were published last week, including confirmation that a drug that would end a patient’s life would have to be self-administered and people would have to be terminally ill and expected to die within six months.

Ms Mahmood, however, said that “predictions regarding life expectancy are often inaccurate”.

“Doctors can only predict the date of death with any real certainty in the last days of life,” she said. “Therefore, deciding who can or cannot be found guilty of suicide will be subjective and imprecise.”

Read more: Gordon Brown says assisted death should not be legalized

Under the Labor MP’s proposals, two independent doctors would have to confirm that a patient is entitled to assisted dying, and a High Court judge would have to give his consent.

The bill would also include penalties of up to 14 years in prison for those who break the law, including forcing someone to take their own life.

Read more: What is the Cabinet position on assisted dying?

However, Ms Mahmood said she was concerned the law could “drive” some to take their own lives.

“It cannot be overstated what a profound shift in our culture assisted suicide will mark,” she wrote.

“In my opinion, the biggest risk of all is the pressure that the elderly, vulnerable, sick or disabled may put on themselves.”

Labor MP Kim Leadbeater, who brought forward the bill, said some of the questions raised by Ms Mahmood had been answered “through the careful drafting and presentation of the bill”.

“The strict selection criteria make it clear that we are only talking about people who are already dying,” she said.

“That is why the bill is called the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill; its scope cannot be changed and does not expressly extend to any other group of people.

“The bill would give dying people autonomy, dignity and the ability to shorten their deaths if they so choose.”

In response to concerns raised by Ms Mahmood about patients being coerced into euthanasia, Ms Leadbeater said she had consulted extensively with doctors and judges.

“Those I spoke to told me they were well equipped to ask the right questions to uncover coercion and discover a person’s true desires. It’s an integral part of their job,” she said.

In an increasingly contentious debate on the topic, several Labor MPs have voiced their concerns.

In a letter to ministers dated 3 October, Cabinet Secretary Simon Case confirmed that “the Prime Minister has decided to abdicate collective responsibility on the merits of this Bill” and that the government “will therefore remain neutral on the passage of the Bill and its issue of assisted dying.”