by Ian Paul, Psephizo
This week, good old Grove Books Ltd has published an important title by Andrew Goddard called Right to Die? The ‘Assisted Dying’ Debate. It is very timely, given that the so-called Assisted Dying Bill is coming back for its third reading in the Commons on 20th June. I offer here some samples of the text, showing how it tackles the key issues underlying this debate, and how we might respond to it.
Andrew begins by exploring the terminology involved—since this is a key part of framing the debate, though many do not realise this. And the question is far from a new one.
The question of ending someone’s life prematurely by what is commonly called ‘assisted dying’ is far from being a new one in British life. The second question ever asked of a British sample by Gallup—the first opinion pollsters in the UK—was, ‘Do you consider that doctors should be given power to end the life of a person incurably ill?’ That was put to a sample of a thousand people back in 1937 and by over two to one (69% to 31%) the finding was that people agreed doctors should be given such power.
The contentious proposed legislation at that time was the Voluntary Euthanasia (Legislation) Bill which was defeated in the House of Lords. The Voluntary Euthanasia Legalization Society had been founded two years previously, ninety years ago, in 1935. In 2006 it changed its name to Dignity in Dying and, highlighting a central argument for its cause, took the strapline ‘Your Life, Your Choice.’ Interestingly, when that same poll question was asked in 2024 the level of support had reduced with only 59% agreeing that doctors should have such power and 41% disagreeing.
All this highlights the importance of the question of terminology, not least in relation to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill 2024–2025, the current legislation before parliament, introduced as a Private Members’ Bill by Kim Leadbeater MP, following various past failures to change the law through both the UK and devolved parliaments.