Response to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Dear constituent,

Thank you to all those who took the time to contact me about the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill and for sharing your views on this important and deeply personal issue.

Today, the House of Commons debated and voted on the Bill at Second Reading. The Bill failed to pass by 286 votes to 270.

After careful consideration, I voted against it. This is also consistent with the position I took on a similar Bill during the previous parliamentary session, which ultimately did not become law.

I want to stress that I am not opposed to assisted dying in principle. However, having listened carefully to constituents, considered the evidence before Parliament and reflected on the debate, I remained unconvinced that this particular Bill contains safeguards that are sufficiently robust to address a number of important concerns.

These include questions around prognostic uncertainty, the definition of terminal illness, the adequacy of safeguards for vulnerable people, and concerns raised by disabled people, medical organisations and others about how the legislation would operate in practice.

I also agree with the Prime Minister that improving social care must be one of our country’s top priorities. Whatever view people take on assisted dying, I hope we can all agree that access to high-quality social care, palliative care and end-of-life support is not good enough for too many people and families. I believe we should be focusing far more attention and energy on ensuring that everyone approaching the end of life can access the care, dignity and support they deserve.

As patron of the Community Hospice in Abbey Wood, I have seen first-hand the extraordinary care provided by hospice staff and the difference that good palliative and end-of-life care can make to patients and their families. Their work demonstrates what is possible when people receive the support they need.

I spoke in today’s debate to explain my position in full. You can view my speech here and read it in Hansard here.

Thank you again for those who got in touch and shared their views with me. I recognise that people hold sincere and strongly held views on all sides of this debate, and I am grateful to everyone who took the time to contact me as I considered my position.

Yours sincerely,

Abena Oppong-Asare MP

Member of Parliament for Erith and Thamesmead