Local MP votes against legalising assisted dying

Local MP Brian Mathew recently voted against legalising assisted dying at the third reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in Parliament, having previously voted in favour.

MPs voted to legalise assisted dying on 20th June, when they gathered in Parliament to vote for the final time following months of debate over whether to allow adults who are terminally ill, subject to safeguards and protections, to request and be provided with assistance to end their own life.

Overall, the bill was backed by 314 votes to 291 and will now go to the House of Lords for detailed scrutiny and potential amendments.

Whilst MP Brian Mathew voted against the bill, he had previously voted for legalising assisted dying.

Following the recent vote, he issued the following statement and said,  “While this was not the result that I hoped for, I want to praise my colleagues on either side of the debate for the thoughtful and sensitive way in which they discussed the matter both in the Commons chamber and in more informal conversations.

“I have heard from hundreds of constituents on this important and sensitive subject and I would like to reiterate how grateful I am to everyone who has written in to share their views and experiences.

“These have provided eloquent and challenging viewpoints from all sides of the debate. It was a real pleasure to see nearly one hundred constituents participate in the online panel I organised to discuss the bill.

“I reached my position after months of conversations with constituents, campaigners, friends, family members and colleagues, as well as deep, personal reflection.

“At the second reading in November, I voted in favour of progressing the bill as I felt that the committee should have the time and opportunity to scrutinise and improve the bill. But I still have several concerns I feel have been inadequately answered by the report stage.

“I share the concerns of many constituents that individuals facing terminal illness will take the decision based on concerns that they have become a burden upon their family. This is a serious concern for me; I worry that in someone’s final days, this question will loom heavy when it does not need to. The intimate setting of bedside care should be a time to be surrounded by loved ones, but this bill risks inviting interference of the judicial process into the delicate and pressing needs of the end of life, where many, who will be unlikely to have considered assisted dying, may now face worries from it.

“Additionally, we must be honest, the current state of end-of-life care cannot be described as optimal. The provision of hospices across our country is patchy at best, which means that for some, an assisted death might be seen as the preferred option, not as a last resort to be used when palliative care cannot alleviate pain.

“With a properly supported palliative care system, much of the problem that this bill seeks to deal with goes away. I do not think it is right that we introduce the choice for assisted death into a society, where many are going without basic end-of-life care. Assisted dying should not be seen as alternative to proper palliative care, so I cannot support this bill in good faith whilst the future of many hospices remains uncertain.

“Finally, I have been touched by the stories brought to me by constituents of priceless moments shared with loved ones before their passing. In my own life I have seen how important these are for family members, and it is a great concern that these precious moments could be denied if the bill was passed. People are surprising. Life, and indeed death, are hard, but it does not mean we should, even if we could, escape from these situations.”