Diane Abbott Raises Fears GPs Will Find It Cheaper to Promote Assisted Dying

THE GUARDIAN: MPs says what terminally ill people ‘really’ need is access to hospice care and proper end-of-life care

Diane Abbott has warned it could soon be cheaper for GPs to encourage seriously unwell patients to “sign on the dotted line for assisted suicide” than to find them a place in a hospice.

The senior Labour MP voted against changing the law because she fears vulnerable people will get swept up in the assisted dying route when “actually what they really need is access to hospice care and proper end-of-life care”. » | Aletha Adu | Sunday, December 1, 2024

This is a licence for the state to kill the sick with impunity. As I have already stated in earlier posts, this is state-sanctioned murder by any other name.

This country’s coffers are empty. Further, the National Health System is in a parlous state – it is short of cash, short of equipment, short of nurses, and short of doctors. Its infrastructure is to a large degree also in urgent need of repair.

Exceedingly strapped for cash, resources, and manpower, it is going to be very tempting for the medical profession to help very sick patients along their way to ‘the next life’! I wouldn’t want to trust the medical profession to do its best for me if this awful bill passes. Moreover, with surgeries and clinics looking after their own budgets, there are great incentives for them to save money. The more money clinics can save, the greater the profits!

I understand full well that many people suffer at the end of life, often with agonising pain and discomfort. But I also understand human nature pretty well, too; and how people are tempted by financial gain. The greater the potential financial gain, the greater the temptation to encourage a burdensome family member to take the decision to end his or her life.

I am not at all convinced by the safeguards this government — or any government — will put in place. Safeguards and guardrails can easily be moved.

This country’s ethical standards are beginning to resemble the shifting sands of the desert! This is a sad turn of events. It used to be that God gave life and only God could take it away. But in post-Christian Britain, anything goes. Britain is fast losing its moral anchors. – © Mark Alexander

HENCEFORWARD, STATE-SANCTIONED MURDER IS TO BE LEGAL IN THE UK

MARK ALEXANDER: Don’t be fooled by the fact that our monarch is the Supreme Governor of the Anglican Church. It means nothing! His Majesty’s government has just been successful in getting the first stage of the legalisation of state-sanctioned murder through Parliament. So how, pray tell, is his Majesty the King going to be able to justify signing this legislation sanctioning state murder into law? How will this sit with his belief in an Almighty?

When a nation gives God the go-by, this is what happens: playing God becomes a thing; playing God becomes a national sport.

I am sorry to say that this country isn’t just going to the dogs, it has already gone to the dogs!

How can Starmer and his henchmen pretend to worry about young people taking up the smoking habit when they can pass legislation as disgusting this? This is a slippery slope if ever I saw one. How long will it be before someone with a chronic disease will be expected to terminate his/her life because of costs and inconvenience?

I speak as someone who has cared for the sick and infirm in my own family. And I cared for my partner with oral cancer, too. I also experienced my partner dying before my very eyes. It is a traumatic experience, to say the least. So, I do know a thing or two about suffering.

I tell you truthfully: this bill is open to much abuse. This is a dark day for the United Kingdom. We have crossed the Rubicon.

© Mark Alexander
All Rights Reserved

Assisted dying set to be legalised after historic vote »

Assisted Dying: The Church of England's Complicated History

Nov 29, 2024 | Our religious affairs correspondent and science reporter, Kaya Burgess, takes us through the shocking history of suicide and assisted dying as it relates to the Church of England.

If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide, support and advice can be found with the Samaritans or SANE.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times.


Should this be called “assisted dying” or ‘state-sponsored murder’? – © Mark Alexander

THE TELEGRAPH:

We are political opponents, but we agree: the assisted dying bill should not pass: There are problems here in principle and in detail »

“This Is Death On Demand” | Danny Kruger on the Cruelty of Assisted Dying

Nov 28, 2024 | There is no ‘safe’ way to legalise assisted dying, warns Conservative MP Danny Kruger on spiked today ahead of Friday’s House of Commons vote. Talking to Fraser Myers, he argues that a so-called right to die would force the NHS to offer ‘death on demand’. For all the talk of the ‘safeguards’ in the proposed bill, the experience of countries like Canada shows that mission creep is inevitable. There, assisted dying is routinely offered to those who don’t ask for it, and as a substitute for proper care. He urges his fellow MPs to reject this dangerous bill.

When a society forgets about God, it starts playing God! This assisted dying bill is as dangerous as it is disgusting.

This interfering, far-left government is so concerned about the health of young people taking up the smoking habit that it intends to ban the sale of cigarettes to young people starting with people born after 2009 because they might — just might! — contract cancer in 50 years’ time, from their enjoyment and pleasure, yet the very same government cares not a jot about killing the sick, the infirm, or the elderly. This insanity beggars belief!

Yet it is easy to explain… We shouldn’t be surprised. It’s all about saving money. In the case of assisted dying, the government saves on the costs of care for the sick and inform; in the case of young people taking up smoking, the government is concerned about the future costs that the NHS will have to pick up if the smoker contracts cancer. Starmer and his henchmen don’t care a damn about YOUR HEALTH or WELL-BEING; rather, they are merely concerned about saving money.

This country is well on its way to Hell! Say NO to assisted dying! – © Mark Alexander

UK’s Longest-serving MPs Issue Joint Plea for Commons to Reject Assisted Dying Bill

THE GUARDIAN: Diane Abbott and the Conservative Sir Edward Leigh, mother and father of the House, say law has been rushed

Britain’s longest-serving MPs, Labour’s Diane Abbott and the Conservative Sir Edward Leigh, have issued a joint call urging the Commons to reject the assisted dying bill, arguing it is being rushed through and puts vulnerable people at risk.

Writing for the Guardian, Abbott and Leigh – the mother and father of the house – said there had been insufficient scrutiny of the law and urged parliament to instead focus on better health and care services.

Four influential new Labour MPs have said they have also decided to oppose the bill amid concerns about the process and the pressure it has put on new parliamentarians.

A landmark vote on legalising assisted dying is due to be held on Friday 29 November. It is a free vote, meaning MPs can decide whether to support or oppose it. In 2015, an assisted dying bill was rejected by 330 votes to 118, but since then a number of other countries have legalised the practice and polls show widespread public support. » | Jessica Elgot and Peter Walker | Wednesday, November 20, 2024

THE GUARDIAN: Assisted dying: what are the ‘slippery slope’ fears in England and Wales?: Lawyers disagree on whether law is likely to be expanded to include people who are not terminally ill »

Assisted Dying Debate: Lord Moore vs Lord Falconer

Oct 18, 2024 | Parliament is set to debate legalising assisted dying, following a bill introduced by MP Kim Leadbeater. The former justice secretary Lord Falconer (who introduced a similar bill to the Lords) and The Spectator’s chairman Lord Moore sat down to debate the idea. Do we all deserve the right to choose? Or, is this the overreach of the state, endangering vulnerable people?

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Urges C of E Bishops in Lords to Back Assisted Dying Bill

THE GUARDIAN: Exclusive: George Carey’s position in stark contrast to that of current head of C of E and that of Islam and the Catholic church

George Carey, the former archbishop of Canterbury, has urged Church of England bishops in the House of Lords to back a parliamentary bill on assisted dying, saying that in the past “church leaders have often shamefully resisted change”.

The 26 bishops should “be on the side of those who … want a dignified, compassionate end to their lives”, Lord Carey told the Guardian.

Carey, who retired as leader of the C of E in 2002 and still sits in the Lords, said he would back Kim Leadbeater’s bill to legalise assisted dying “because it is necessary, compassionate and principled”.

He said it was “ironic that I will represent the vast majority of Anglicans who favour change, and the bishops in the House of Lords will not”.

Carey’s position is in stark contrast to that of the current archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who this week described Leadbeater’s bill as dangerous, saying it could put pressure on people to ask for an assisted death.

Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York, also said the state “should not legalise assisted suicide”, saying better resourcing of palliative care was the right response to end-of-life suffering. » | Harriet Sherwood | Friday, October 18, 2024

Related material here and here.

England and Wales Assisted Dying Bill Formally Launched in House of Commons

THE GUARDIAN: MPs to hold first debate on Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s private member’s bill on 29 November

A bill to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales has been formally introduced in the House of Commons, triggering intense discussion over the coming weeks and months on an emotionally charged and controversial issue.

MPs will hold their first debate on Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s private member’s bill on 29 November. They will be given a free vote on the bill, meaning they can vote according to individual conscience.

The text of the terminally ill adults (end of life) bill has not been published, but its title states that it would “allow adults who are terminally ill, subject to safeguards and protections, to request and be provided with assistance to end their own life”.

The bill is expected to propose assisted dying be restricted to mentally competent adults with six months or less to live, although a 12-month prognosis is also a possibility. The details will be published in the coming weeks ahead of the Commons debate. » | Harriet Sherwood | Wednesday, October 16, 2024

UK’s top Catholic bishop urges faithful to lobby MPs to oppose assisted dying: Cardinal Vincent Nichols says proposed bill could change medical duty of care into ‘duty to kill’ »

I suppose that this far-left government wants this bill passed through Parliament in order to help Cruella de Ville fill her £20bn “black hole”! Funny thing, though, that these extremists find it okay for doctors to help people die now, but they are dead nuts against someone smoking even though smoking is likely to take about fifty years to do the job (if it does it at all)!

Starmer is an out and out atheist, apparently. Little wonder he sees nothing wrong with man doing God’s work for Him.

Whilst I see the logic in helping people in terrible pain to bring an end to their suffering, I fear that this bill, however well-intentioned, is fraught with many dangers and open to much abuse, especially by greedy families just waiting for their inheritances. – © Mark Alexander

Baroness Finlay: ‘Labour’s assisted dying bill is dangerous – it could have unintended consequences’: The Lords’ only resident palliative care expert warns Labour’s bill risks a ‘slippery slope’ to coercion by relatives and ‘doctor shopping’ »

”Assisted Dying”

MARK ALEXANDER: Assisted dying is a euphemism for euthanasia. Let us be clear about that! So, let us call it exactly what it is.

I know that there are strong arguments in favour of euthanasia, but there are also many strong arguments against it. The harsh reality is that humans have started to play God; and the Anglican Church is strangely silent on this most sensitive of issues.

Our atheist leader — the Führer — is said to be all for it. But then he would be, wouldn’t he, with his belief system, or lack of one? Surely, he will be glad to be able to pass such a bill; the billions saved for the Treasury will quickly start to fill his “black hole”.

These days, most people bundle their old and infirm into care homes, without compunction. Life is easier that way! That they do this is a sad indictment of the über-materialistic times we live in, a sad indictment of modern Western societies.

The West truly has lost its way now. Expect its demise sooner rather than later. This moral void will most certainly be filled, however. We are a post-Christian society now: people have abandoned Christianity. They have abandoned God. But I believe it is true to say that God will not have abandoned them. He will manifest Himself in another way, in another, fast-growing religion in this country: Islam.

We need to think carefully about this step into the unknown, which we appear determined to take.

All Rights Reserved
© Mark Alexander

ADDENDUM:

It should be noted that doctors practise “assisted dying” already. I know this for a fact because my life’s partner was assisted in his passing in Philadelphia in 2016 under my very own eyes. His continued and long-term hospital care became too expensive for his premium health insurance to countenance. So, steps were taken to help him on his way! It was so subtle, even I didn’t realise what was happening until it was too late! – © Mark Alexander

Related video here.

Top UK Brain Surgeon Calls for Urgent Inquiry into Assisted Dying

THE GUARDIAN: Henry Marsh reveals he has advanced prostate cancer and says law ‘insists I must suffer’

Henry Marsh, one of the UK’s leading brain surgeons and a bestselling author, has called for an urgent inquiry into assisted dying after revealing he has advanced prostate cancer.

Marsh, the author of Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery, said dying of cancer could be “a very horrible business” but the law “insists I must suffer”. Politicians had “shown a striking lack of compassion by ducking this issue for too long and are inadvertently guilty of great cruelty”, he said.

His call for an inquiry is backed by more than 50 MPs and peers from different parties, some of whom have previously voted against changing the law. Their letter to Robert Buckland, the justice secretary, argues that the UK has now fallen behind many other countries on the issue of assisted dying.

Last month Spain became the latest European country to approve legislation giving patients with incurable diseases or unbearable conditions the right to choose to end their lives with the assistance of a doctor. » | Harriet Sherwood | Thursday, April 1, 2021