by Harriet Sherwood, Guardian
Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Sikh women say bill has ‘insufficient safeguards’ to protect those who are vulnerable
The legalisation of assisted dying in England and Wales could create “a new tool to harm vulnerable women”, particularly those subject to domestic violence and coercive control, say female faith leaders from different traditions.
More than 100 women from Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Sikh groups have warned in an open letter that the terminally ill adults bill has “insufficient safeguards to protect some of the most marginalised in society, particularly women subjected to gender-based violence and abuse by a partner”.
The proposed legislation could help such women to end their lives, says the letter, which was published on Sunday on the website of Theos, a Christian thinktank.
Concerns that the assisted dying bill could put vulnerable women in danger were raised earlier this year by charities involved in domestic violence and coercive control. They said some perpetrators drove their victims to suicide, and there was a “significant risk” that coercion could play a part in some cases of assisted dying.