LONDON: Hindu and Sikh leaders in Britain are joining Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders to sign a letter of protest against the assisted dying bill, which MPs will vote on on Friday.
The Terminally Ill Adult (End of Life) Bill aims to allow adults who are in the last six months of their life to request assistance from a doctor to end their life. The bill states that two doctors must assess the request and check that they have reached their decision voluntarily and then final permission is given by a High Court judge who administers an “approved substance” that can end life – self- Administered – allows them to be prescribed.
Cardinal Nicholls, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, as well as the Muslim Council of Britain had all publicly opposed the bill weeks earlier, with Welby describing it as “dangerous”.
Now Anil Bhanot, Managing Trustee of Hindu Council UK; Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh Ahluwali, spiritual leader and president, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sevak Jatha; Trupti Patel, President of Hindu Forum of Britain; Mehul Sangharajka, President of the Institute of Jainology; Lord Singh of Wimbledon, director of the Network of Sikh Organizations UK and other religious leaders have co-signed a letter opposing the law.
The letter says they are deeply concerned about the impact this bill will have on the most vulnerable people, including the elderly and disabled, who may be pressured to end their lives early. They point to Canada and Oregon where promised safeguards have not protected the vulnerable and most marginalized. “It’s easy to see how having a ‘right to die’ can easily degenerate into feeling like you have a ‘duty to die,'” the letter said. The letter instead calls for greater investment in palliative care.
The private members’ bill is being introduced by Labor backbencher Kim Leadbeater, as her name tops the ballot. MPs will have the right to vote independently, that is, they will be able to vote according to their conscience.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood are against this bill. In a letter to his voters, Mahmood wrote: “The state should never offer death as a service.”
But Leadbeater says the law needs to change “to give dying people choice and autonomy”.