Health Secretary Wes Streeting is right to oppose assisted suicide proposals brought forward by a fellow Labour politician, a charity has said.
Mr Streeting says he’ll oppose a Bill from Kim Leadbeater over concerns end-of-life care is not good enough for patients to make an informed choice.
On Monday evening, he told backbenchers that he had reversed his stance on the issue because of the state of the National Health Service.
James Mildred, Director of Communications and Engagement at CARE, welcomed the news and called on other MPs to heed concerns.
Mr Mildred said: “Wes Streeting is right to be concerned about the prospect of assisted suicide in a context where people cannot get the care they need.
“CARE is among many charities in the UK warning that people’s decisions about ‘assisted death’ would be influenced by their experience of healthcare inequality, poverty, social isolation and other factors.
“A change in the law would see marginalised Britons seeking to end their lives because their circumstances make continued living feel pointless. Wherever MPs stand on ‘assisted dying’ morally, they can’t deny the danger of this outcome – which is frightening to consider.
“Viewed alongside other concerns among doctors, disability groups, and legal experts, the case against an assisted suicide law in the UK is very strong indeed. We urge parliamentarians to think about the implications of a law change and vote against it, as in past debates.”
