MP breaks in parliament while sharing man's plea for assisted dying

An MP was moved to tears in parliament as she read out a letter from a constituent calling for the legalisation of assisted dying.

Politicians in Westminster have been debating the issue after a petition organised by Dame Esther Rantzen gathered more than 200,000 signatures.

Siobhan Baillie, the Conservative MP for Stroud, welled up as she told the story of a man who wrote to her about the death of his mother.

The unnamed woman had considered taking her own life as her friend had done, he said in his letter, but ultimately decided against it.

However, she went on to ‘plead for death’, Ms Baillie said, as it took her 16 weeks to die ‘effectively from starvation’.

The politician welled up as she added: ‘I mention this gentleman because he said, “When my mum was dying” – and it’s hard, we all get these – “I promised myself that I, at the very least, would write a letter, and write this letter to my MP so that the bitter disagreement with the law in my experience would be on record.”’

Earlier, she had described constituents contacting her in ‘droves’ to call for assisted dying, saying: ‘I think there hasn’t been a surgery for some time when somebody hasn’t come in.’

Sign up for Metro’s politics newsletter

Not sure what’s going on in the world of politics? Ask Alright, Gov?, Metro’s brand new politics newsletter.

Sign up here for regular updates from Westminster and beyond, exclusive interviews with big names, and easy-to-read breakdowns of how today’s headlines will actually affect you.

The parliamentary debate drew strong emotions in the opposite direction too, with Ms Baillie’s Tory colleague Thérèse Coffey saying: ‘No-one should feel such a burden on their family, their friends and society that they should end their lives early.’

Campaigner and TV legend Dame Esther Rantzen launched the campaign that resulted in the debate (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Labour MP Rachael Maskell said she had concerns over people who might feel they are ‘just getting in the way’ and think ‘my children themselves will have a better future without me’.

Kit Malthouse, a Conservative, said he rejected the idea that the country was ‘teeming with granny killers, all of us waiting just to bump off a wealthy relative so we can pocket the cash, like we’re some kind of nation of Jeremy Bambers, intent on remunerating ourselves’.

Bamber killed his adoptive parents, his adoptive sister, and her two sons in the 1985 White House Farm murders.

Which countries have legalised assisted dying?

• USA

  Legal in 10 of the 50 states: Oregon, Washington, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Hawaii, Maine, Vermont and New Jersey. Also legal in Washington, DC.

• Canada

  Law has been liberalised significantly since a supreme court ruling in 2015.

• Switzerland

  Assisted dying in various forms has been legal for decades. The home of the organisation Dignitas, which has become almost synonymous with the issue.

• Netherlands

  Doctors have been able to prescribe drugs for self-administration since 2001.

• Australia

  Legal in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia, with a bill introduced in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) last October.

• Belgium

  Legal for patients who are terminally ill and also those with psychiatric disorders or dementia.

Having been prompted by a petition, Monday afternoon’s debate was not linked to a direct push for legislation.

The last time assisted dying was voted on in the Commons was 2015, when it was rejected at second reading by 330 votes to 118.

What is assisted dying?

In countries and territories where assisted dying is legal, doctors are allowed to help their patients to die.

This is typically done by the administering of certain drugs, and is often only permitted for patients who are terminally ill and experiencing unbearable pain.

Proponents argue it would limit suffering in people who might otherwise face a long and uncomfortable wait for death.

However, others say it contradicts the medical pledge to ‘do no harm’, and suggest it could put pressure on vulnerable people who don’t want to become a burden on others to end their lives prematurely.

They also point to parts of the world that have liberalised their laws considerably since passing initial stringent legislation, such as Canada.

Earlier this month, two physically healthy Dutch women aged 28 and 34 separately said they were planning to end their lives due to severe depression and other psychiatric issues.

Need support?

For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected], visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.

If you’re a young person, or concerned about a young person, you can also contact PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide UK. Their HOPELINK digital support platform is open 24/7, or you can call 0800 068 4141, text 07860039967 or email: [email protected] between the hours of 9am and midnight.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Get your need-to-know latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more by signing up to Metro’s News Updates newsletter