British church and Christian leaders have signed a letter opposing the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill that will have its second reading on 29 November, and are asking UK Christians to do the same.

“This bill, in our view, undermines the value of life and lacks the safeguards needed to protect those most at risk from being coerced into premature death”, say the Christian leaders in the letter.

Main concerns

They warn about the ethical concerns of “prioritising individual choice, we risk ignoring the broader consequences on healthcare professionals who commit to act for the good of their patients, on family members burdened with the aftermath, and on wider society”.

The letter also stresses that “protecting the most vulnerable members of society should be our primary concern. The healthcare system is already rife with inequalities that disproportionately affect the poor, elderly, ethnic minorities, and those with disabilities. Rather than addressing these disparities, this bill risks exacerbating them”.

Christian leaders denounce “the lack of adequate investment in palliative care and that “the Association of Palliative Medicine opposes the bill, many doctors are uncomfortable with prescribing life-ending drugs”.

“Improved palliative care should be the focus, ensuring that patients can die with dignity and support, rather than expanding the option of assisted suicide”, they add.

Pressure on vulnerable patients

Furthermore, Christian are concerned that “vulnerable patients may feel pressured by family members or caregivers, whether explicitly or implicitly, especially given the rising costs of care”.

“Capacity assessments for assisted suicide are complex, and the individuals closest to the patient may be reluctant to carry them out due to the implications. And the prediction of a patient’s time left to live is imprecise and complex, raising ethical questions about its legitimacy”, underlines the letter.

“Vote against the Bill”

The UK Evangelical Alliance (EAUK), along with organisations such as CARE, the Christian Medical Fellowship, Christian Institute, Christian Concern, and national leaders from a wide range denominations, have signed and backed the letter.

The signatories finish urging MPs to “vote against the bill at its second reading, as it fails to address these critical concerns and poses risks to the most vulnerable in society”.

The letter is open for any leaders of churches or Christian organisations to sign in by Monday, 25 November, when the final letter and signatories will be published.

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) draft law

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, introduced the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in parliament for first reading on 16 October.

The draft law aims to “allow adults who are terminally ill the right to request and seek assistance to end their own life, subject to safeguards”.

According to Danny Webster, head of the EAUK advocacy team, those safeguards are “more like a bureaucratic process to navigate than effective protection for the most vulnerable. They are designed to create a process which supports an industry of those in favour of helping people navigate the system towards the conclusion where they are helped to take their own life”.

“The need for two doctors to approve is undermined by the possibility of shopping for an alternative doctor if one decides to say no. And the judge giving final approval is not required to examine why a doctor might have refused to support the application”, he explained.

For Webster, “this bill should be rejected. It does not provide dignity in life or death. We should instead redouble our efforts in care and compassion to help those who are in greatest suffering, to know that they are loved and valued, to support families to care for their loved ones and to firmly stand for life, even as death draws near”.

The draft law will have its second reading on 29 November. If it gets a majority vote in favour, the bill will move onto committee stage where parliamentarians will be reviewing the wording.

The scrutiny will take less time than for a government bill and they may not consider evidence from experts or other external groups, because it is a private member’s draft law.

You can read and sign the letter here