Brown against permitting assisted suicide

We all have to accept that this is a highly emotive topic. Each individual will have his or her own opinion and at Question Time last month, Gordon Brown acknowledged that the matter was one of conscience, albeit expressing his personal opposition to such legislation.

However, given his comments on the “Today” programme, I feel that I have to take issue with his stance. His statement that we should not “put pressure on people to end their lives” appears to me to misunderstand the prime issue in relation to permitting assistance suicide – it is to respect the wishes and dignity of the individual who is capax albeit terminally ill, and who wishes to put an end to their own suffering. It is no part nor the purpose of any such legislation to enable others to bring pressure on an individual to end their lives.

Detailed studies in both Holland and Belgium concluded that the vulnerable were much more at risk where there was no regulated system of voluntary euthanasia, with appropriate safeguards being put in place. What evidence does Gordon Brown have that vulnerable individuals in the UK would be more at risk if there was a regulated system of voluntary euthanasia with appropriate safeguards?

Gordon Brown’s personal opinion (which as an individual he is entitled to hold) is not borne out by a series of polls/surveys. Last month, the Times conducted a survey in which they found that 69% were in favour of voluntary euthanasia. Of that 69%, 61% indicated that they themselves would wish to have the option of voluntary euthanasia if they became terminally ill.

I noted with interest that in the Journal’s own online survey, 65% (as at 31 December 2008) were in favour of assisted suicide. Legislation change invariably lags well behind societal change. To that extent, legislation is reactive. Society has in recent years clearly indicated its majority viewpoint.

One final point. In Gordon Brown’s radio interview, he emphasised “the importance of human life”. By that does he mean that our society should force those who are terminally ill and suffering to accept that they have no choice in the matter and must accept whatever palliative treatments may be applied to them, albeit against their expressed wishes? This will surely lead to more individuals in England & Wales granting living wills under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in order to circumvent such an approach. It will also heighten the argument for some form of statutory recognition in Scotland of living wills – again to ensure that individuals are not subjected to palliative care and kept alive when they do not wish this.