Disabled advocates warn of dangers in assisted dying legislation
- Disabled people’s organizations opposed the assisted dying bill, seeing it as a threat.
- Advocates fear the legislation could lead to coercion and diminish protections for vulnerable individuals.
- There is a growing concern that continued pressure will erode the safeguards meant to protect disabled people.
In the ongoing debate about assisted dying legislation, many disabled people’s organizations and charities have expressed strong opposition, highlighting a lack of consideration for the vulnerable. James Moore, an advocate living with debilitating health conditions, voiced his concerns about potential policy creep that could undermine safeguards meant to protect individuals from coercion. He referenced comments from Baroness Jane Campbell and others who noted that the legislation disregarded the voices and experiences of people with disabilities. Moore specifically warned that the process could lead to scenarios where individuals feel pressured to choose assisted suicide rather than receiving adequate support for their conditions. The article emphasizes the fears that as legislators push to ease access to assisted dying, the protections intended to prevent vulnerable individuals from being coerced into ending their lives will become increasingly inadequate. This mirrors trends seen in other jurisdictions, prompting dire warnings that similar outcomes could manifest if safeguards are weakened in Britain. Ultimately, there is a call for more conscientious evaluation of the implications of such laws on the lives of disabled individuals, ensuring their voices are included and considered in these critical discussions.