Theresa May passionately opposed the assisted dying Bill, arguing that it could inadvertently normalize suicide. Speaking in the House of Lords, the former Conservative Prime Minister, now known as Baroness May of Maidenhead, expressed concerns about the potential for coercion and the bill’s possible use to conceal medical errors.
Advocates of the legislation, which aims to grant terminally ill individuals with less than six months to live the option to end their lives, are urging peers not to obstruct its progress. Dame Esther Rantzen, in a heartfelt plea, emphasized the importance of being able to bid farewell to loved ones with dignity.
The House of Lords is currently deliberating the significant Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, previously endorsed by MPs with a majority vote. Labour’s Lord Charlie Falconer initiated the debate, highlighting the flaws in the current law and the need for compassion and clarity in end-of-life care.
Contrarily, Baroness May labeled the proposed law as an assisted suicide bill rather than an assisted dying bill, stressing societal values that condemn suicide. She raised concerns about potential pressures on vulnerable individuals and the risk of exploiting the law to mask institutional errors.
The proposed legislation would permit terminally ill adults in England and Wales, with a prognosis of less than six months, to request an assisted death. The process would involve approval from two physicians and a panel comprising a social worker, legal expert, and psychiatrist.
The emotive discussions have exposed deep divisions among peers, with personal narratives adding poignant perspectives. Lord Michael Forsyth, a Conservative peer who traditionally opposed assisted dying, shared a poignant anecdote about his father’s agonizing death, leading him to reconsider his stance in favor of the bill.
