‘A tragic day’: campaigners react as MPs say no to legalising assisted dying
Opponents say proposed law change for England and Wales was ‘unsafe and unworkable’ after bill is narrowly defeated
TL;DR
- MPs voted against the assisted dying bill, leaving campaigners 'broken'.
- The bill would have allowed terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to seek medical assistance to end their lives.
- MP Lauren Edwards expressed disappointment, stating support for choice at the end of life remains strong, but objections were about parliamentary process.
- Esther Rantzen, a campaigner with terminal cancer, called it a 'tragic day' but believed a change in law will eventually come.
- Opponents, including Labour MPs Ashley Dalton, Meg Hillier, and Jess Asato, called the bill 'unsafe and unworkable'.
- MP Ashley Dalton, who revealed she has stage 4 breast cancer, argued the bill made no provision to support the transition immediately after diagnosis.
- Claire Hazelgrove spoke about her mother's suffering from pain that could not be palliated, even with good palliative care.
- Medical professionals like Zubir Ahmed questioned the readiness of the social and palliative care system.
- Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK, urged both sides to focus on fixing the hospice funding crisis.