Assisted dying / suicide is about more than an individual choice; it impacts communities and is of public interest. If the proposals are successful, they will fundamentally change a society’s relationship with the health and social care sector. People will go from receiving a duty of care to feeling a duty to die if they are concerned about being a burden to loved ones.
Proposals to introduce assisted suicide in Great Britain are at a critical stage with votes in Westminster and the Scottish Parliament. Now is the time to speak up, contact your MP and pray.
For the past twenty years, we have engaged with the issue in the media and in parliament, and the current proposals are the most significant attempt to change the law in many years. Our motivation is based in the fundamental truth that all human life is valuable and should be protected. However, our concerns are shared with many people of different belief systems as well. We believe legalising assisted dying in the UK will lead to unintended consequences, particularly for those living in socially deprived communities, with learning and physical disabilities, the elderly or those suffering with mental distress.
Over the years, we have produced resources to help Christians engage both politically and pastorally and have linked them below. We are wanting to encourage the church to pray without ceasing in the coming months. As the issue is discussed extensively in the media and in parliament, let us pray that those most vulnerable and dependent on the health and social care system will be protected from harm, their personhood respected, and access to support strengthened.
Assisted suicide is about more than an individual choice; it impacts communities and is of public interest. If the proposals are successful, they will fundamentally change a society’s relationship with the health and social care sector. People will go from receiving a duty of care to feeling a duty to die if they are concerned about being a burden to loved ones.
For the past 20 years, we have engaged with the issue in the media and in parliament, and the current proposals are the most significant attempt to change the law in many years. Our motivation is based on the fundamental truth that all human life is valuable and should be protected. However, our concerns are shared with many people of different belief systems as well.
We believe legalising assisted suicide in the UK will lead to unintended consequences, particularly for those living in socially deprived communities, with learning and physical disabilities, the elderly or those suffering with mental distress.
As the issue is discussed extensively in the media and in parliament, let us pray that those most vulnerable and dependent on the health and social care system will be protected from harm, their personhood respected, and access to support strengthened.
Engaging with the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
Assisted suicide bill advances to the House of Lords
The church will lament parliament’s decision not to protect life but must not despair
Four groups negatively affected by the assisted dying bill
An assisted death is a choice for the few at the expense of the manyCommentaries on the topic of assisted dying / suicide
How might we approach the conversation on Assisted Dying?
David Smyth shares his reflections on the upcoming Assisted Dying private members bill and how we can put this into context as Christians
Why we must oppose assisted dying proposals in Scotland
Good intentions are not enough when it comes to policymaking for life and death
Podcast and media interviews
The church can, and should, offer a pastoral perspective on this debate. Christians have been at the forefront of the hospice and palliative care movements, and we continue to give dignity to each person in the final days of their life.
Podcast and media interviews
The church can, and should, offer a pastoral perspective in this debate. Christians have been at the forefront of the hospice and palliative care movements, and we continue to give dignity to each person in the final days of their life
Improving end of life care in the UK
Public policy work in the Senedd, Holyrood and Westminster. We take a collaborative approach, working with member organisations, across party parliamentarians, disability charities and those in hospice care and the NHS.
A glimmer of hope: the Lords is uncovering the truth about assisted suicide
Why is additional scrutiny such good news for this debate?
An update on the push for assisted suicide in Westminster and Scotland
Mark Gilmore highlights four key concerns following recent government debates
Email your MP to vote no to assisted suicide
Assisted dying bill reaches a critical point in its parliamentary process
"It's important for people to have a good death," says Rachael Maskell MP
Watch our Cross Section interview with Rachael Maskell MP about palliative care, safeguards and how we journey with those who are suffering
Kim Leadbeater replaces High Court judge with assisted dying review panels
Backbench Labour MPs are vocalising their concerns in response to Leadbeater’s U-turn
Assisted dying law – what comes next?
Danny Webster reflects on the vote in parliament to progress the bill to permit assisted dying and what will happen for it to become law
Making sense of Kim Leadbeater's Assisted Dying bill
Catch up on this 45 minute webinar where we unpacked new proposals to legalise assisted dying and make the case for improving end of life care.
More than 1200 Christian leaders join letter to MPs opposing assisted dying plans
Church and Christian leaders speak out to oppose Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
Parliament set to debate and vote on legalising assisted dying in England and Wales
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will have its second reading on 29 November. Learn what’s being proposed and how to engage your local MP ahead of the debate.
What’s wrong with a bill seeking to introduce assisted suicide?
Danny Webster, director of advocacy outlines the significance of the proposed End of Life Bill and why we must act now to oppose it
Issue Briefing on Assisted Dying
Equipping Christians to engage both pastorally and politically on this issue
How might we approach the conversation on Assisted Dying?
David Smyth shares his reflections on the upcoming Assisted Dying private members bill and how we can put this into context as Christians
Assisted Dying Inquiry: important things you need to know
In our response to an inquiry by the Health and Social Care Committee, we encouraged MPs to prioritise improving palliative care, instead of legalising assisted suicide
Why we must oppose assisted dying proposals in Scotland
Good intentions are not enough when it comes to policymaking for life and death
New plans to allow assisted dying must be strongly opposed
Plans will be introduced into parliament to permit assisting a terminally ill person to die
Assisted suicide would lead to more suffering, not less
We’re encouraging our members to make their views known to the Scottish Parliament on this important issue
Understanding key terms
Assisted dying: proponents of the assisted dying bill in 2015 in England and Wales argue that this term best describes prescribing life ending drugs for terminally ill mentally competent adults to administer themselves after meeting strict legal safeguards.
Assisted suicide describes giving assistance to die to people with long term progressive conditions and other people who are not dying in addition to patients with a long-term illness. The drugs are self-administered.
Voluntary euthanasia: this describes a doctor directly administrating life-ending drugs to a patient who has given consent.
