Christian Left’s Statement on Assisted Dying

“Talking about the end of life is often difficult. Most of us can remember the experiences of loved ones who have died or who are today approaching the end of their journey in this life. Therefore, we understand that discussing this issue can affect us emotionally on a deep and passionate level. This is why policymakers have a responsibility to think carefully about this issue, taking into account current ethical values ​​and the possible consequences of change. The responsibility for considering and accepting changes rests with politicians. arguments dispassionately, but based on passionate experience.

As Christians—and as Christian socialists—we believe that human beings are created in the image of God. All human life has value, no matter how young or old, healthy or terminally ill. This does not mean that it should be extended beyond its natural end, but medicine generally understands this. We need to discuss end-of-life experiences more, drawing on the hospice movement, which draws heavily on the Christian worldview.

However, the upcoming Private Members’ Bill proposes changes to the law to make it legal to assist someone to commit suicide when they are facing what they at the time consider intolerable suffering. This is not the same as a decision to relieve pain that could potentially shorten the patient’s life.

We believe that this change in legislation will mark a broader shift in the way our society views human life, particularly in the way we treat people who are terminally ill, elderly, disabled or otherwise vulnerable. We believe it is naive to believe that “safeguards” will limit the extent to which people are helped to end their lives, as the experience of countries such as Canada shows.

It is also naive to believe that people facing the end of their lives will be given a real choice of what to do. Most hospice care is provided and funded on a voluntary basis, and although this country relies on (and underpays) many wonderful and professional caregivers, high-quality palliative care is not available everywhere. Currently, the health and social care system is broken and often fails people. The UK Covid-19 Inquiry was told that during the pandemic, some older and disabled people found that “Do Not Resuscitate” instructions were given arbitrarily. Faced with no or limited social care options and full wards, over time there is a real possibility that similar pressure could be put on terminally ill patients to consider ending their lives. This would not be a genuine choice and would not treat people with dignity.

It is also likely that some patients will consider themselves a burden to their families and friends, which they could alleviate by seeking help to end their life, and may even be encouraged to think so. This bill introduces this weighing of human life, albeit unspoken, into the most dire circumstances for people in the most vulnerable situations. This is not progress.

At the very least, no decisions about assisted dying should be made until we ensure high quality end of life and access to palliative care for all. We must prioritize the creation of a national commission on palliative and end-of-life care before even broaching the topic of end-of-life care. This would be Christian socialism in practice: a community doing its best to value, cherish and care for the individual and, as a result, become a better society.”