‘I Have Been Open And Categorical In My Opposition To The End of Life Bill’-Margaret Mullane MP.

The Member Of Parliament For Dagenham and Rainham, Margaret Mullane-today shares her view on the government’s End of Life Bill.

This week the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life Bill, referenced in debate as the most fateful Bill to be brought before the House of Commons, passed its 3rd Reading and will now be considered by the House of Lords. I have been open and categorical in my opposition to this Bill at each stage and must now share my abject disappointment that colleagues have voted it through. In correctly fearing the worst, I supported many amendments which would have strengthened safeguards and protections within this Bill, all of which were voted down. Overall, I have not been convinced on a moral or ethical level that this Bill is the right thing to do. There is still room for the possibility of coercion, undue pressure, and mental ill health affecting the judgement of terminally ill patients. Subsequently, the version of the Bill presented today at 3rd Reading contained nothing to address the concerns l, and others, have consistently raised. Which is why l voted against.

At present end-of-life support is funded by bake sales, raffles and good will, with limited intervention from government. I understand the arguments put forward about the quality of palliative care in Britain, I have experienced it, but assisted suicide is not the answer. What we need is a parity of palliative care across the country to remove the postcode lottery we currently have, putting an end to decades of chronic underfunding.

The passing of this Bill undermines and devalues the need for a serious conversation about the state of palliative care in Britain – something I feel deserves a public inquiry of its own. I still hold to the belief that ‘assisted dying’ means supporting the terminally ill and their families with the best possible care, allowing people to live their final days with dignity and respect surrounded by their loved ones. Assisted suicide as set out in the Bill detracts from this vision. We all experience loss, it is part of being human and we will all have our personal stories. Over the course of the debate, we heard heartfelt testimonies from Members of Parliament about the loss of their friends, family, and constituents. Yet, whilst I deeply sympathise with the suffering that the terminally ill and their families face, I believe I made the right choice in voting against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life Bill for the reasons set out in this and previous statements.

I would like to keep on record and reiterate that I have spoken to many people about this subject since the Bill was first tabled – meeting with faith groups, charities, constituents, friends and family across Dagenham and Rainham and beyond, and whilst still opposed to the Bill, I hold the views shared with me from all sides with the utmost respect.

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