Over the last few years the debate on Assisted Dying has continued to grow. On September 11th there is another Private Members Bill aiming to legalise Assisted Dying.
Many of us have seen elderly people suffer greatly before dying. More than two hundred constituents have written to say that they don’t want that to continue and that there should be a dignified, sensibly regulated option of Assisted Dying if you have a terminal illness and are given six months only to live.
On the other hand quite a lot of others have written with their concerns about mankind taking away a right to life, of creating unintended consequences for the elderly, and of citizens being frightened into doing something for the wrong reason.
This is an issue on which many have views and few of us have to do anything about it. But I may have to vote at some stage whether to make Assisted Dying legal or not (September 11th is only the start of a long process and the Bill may not go forward): and voting is very binary – yes or no, on balance.
This will be a free vote, not a party political or manifesto issue. So to understand the hopes and fears of both sides of the debate among my constituents and other Glos residents, I have invited representatives from two leading organisations to make their case to an open audience from 10am – 12 noon at the Council Chamber in Shire Hall on Friday 28th August. I will then open up the discussion to members of the audience.
Do read more about The Campaign for Dignity in Dying and Living and Dying Well on on their websites: http://www.dignityindying.org.uk/ and http://www.livinganddyingwell.org.uk/
Numbers are limited and so please RSVP as soon as possible to Sophie Benfield on 01452 501167 or to [email protected].
I look forward to seeing some of you there, but if you can’t come or are unlucky in the draw, and want to let me know your view, please mail me on whether you think Assisted Dying is the right way forward on [email protected].