'We must not shy away from the debate on assisted dying'

23 December 2023 , 19:18

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'We must not shy away from the debate on assisted dying'

Esther Rantzen sparked a national discussion by revealing she was considering using an assisted dying clinic. The debate on assisted dying provokes strong feelings but it is a conversation that we should not shy away from.

As our population ages, there will be a growing number of people who wish to make the choice Dame Esther is considering. It is nearly a decade since the Commons last debated the issue so it is right, as Keir Starmer and other MPs have suggested, it is revisited.

MPs will have to wrestle with the wish to treat life as sacrosanct while also not wanting to prolong agony and indignity. It is only MPs who have the power to decide whether assisted dying should be legalised and, if so, craft a law that protects the vulnerable.

Navigating this path will not be easy. There are questions of whether you allow assisted dying only for the terminally ill or also for those with other serious conditions. All opinions must be respected but it serves no one if this crucial issue is left unresolved.

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