Today’s vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
Last year, I voted to support a Second Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. I have shared my position on this issue here: https://www.rachelblake.org.uk/my-decision
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Today’s debate in the House of Commons chamber was the ‘Report Stage’. This stage is the point at which the House of Commons considers further amendments (proposals for change), on the floor of the House, to a Bill which has been examined in committee.
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Many amendments were tabled (proposed). These amendments were grouped by the Speaker into 2 Groups based on the topic of the amendment. Today we debated Group 1 of the amendments.
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There was a long debate about many of the Group 1 amendments proposed to the Bill.
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There were 2 votes today.
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The first was regarding a Closure Motion which is a proposal that the Commons should stop debating and make a decision on the matter being discussed. I supported this Motion. I considered whether making a decision on the matter was in the best interests of the overall progress of the Bill. I considered whether further debate would significantly change the legislation going forward and whether it would increase or reduce the possibility of bringing forward amendments which I believe would improve the Bill. On balance I decided that the House should proceed to considering Group 1 amendments.
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The second was on NC10 on ‘No obligation to provide assistance’. Under this amendment, no person is under any duty to participate in the provision of assistance in accordance with the Act. I support this amendment as I believe this protects individuals who may not wish to participate in the provision of assistance in accordance with this Act. I believe it robustly responds to the some of the concerns raised about the role of professionals in the provision of assistance.
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The other amendments that I am considering supporting in order to ensure there are the strongest possible protections against coercion and in order to ensure the mental health and capacity are carefully considered as part of the provision are:
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Amendment NC2 ‘No health professional shall raise assisted dying with a person under 18’
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Amendment 14 which means that someone who is not terminally ill within the meaning of subsection (1) cannot bring themselves within that definition by voluntarily stopping eating or drinking or both.
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Amendment 22 which would require the assessing doctor to consult other health professions and other persons as the assessing doctor sees fit on clinical, psychological and social matters relevant to the person.
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Amendment 24 would disapply the presumption that a person has capacity unless the opposite is established.
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Amendment 33 would require the assessing doctors to ask the person whether they have discussed their request for an assisted death with family and friends, and to discuss their reasons if not, in order to decide whether to advise that they should do so under subsection (g).