1. Assisted Dying, should it be legalised?
Jo Cartwright
Dignity in Dying
September 2010

2. Assisted dying v. assisted suicide and euthanasia
Assisted dying - terminally ill, mentally competent adult choosing to shorten the dying process
Assisted suicide – chronically ill, mentally competent adult choosing to shorten their life
Euthanasia – direct action to end a person’s life

3. Public opinion
82% of the general public believe that a doctor should probably or definitely be allowed to end the life of a patient with a painful incurable disease at the patient’s request
BSA survey 2010 3

4. Public understanding Times (Populus) 2009
74% support AD for terminally ill adults
85% believe legislation should have strict safeguards
13% want legalisation without restriction
Introduction
People sometimes raise concerns that the widespread public support for assisted dying lacks sophistication and is based in kneejerk reactions to illness, suffering and disability. This is not borne out by the evidence.
BSA 2007
The BSAS 2007 found that 80% support assisted dying for terminally ill adults.
But in the same survey only 43% agreed that a person who is not in much danger of death, but becomes dependant on relatives for all their needs should be allowed assistance to die.
Times 2009
In a Times (Populus) survey, conducted July 2009, 74% supported a change in the law for terminally ill adults to allow for doctor assisted dying[1].
The poll also found that 85% thought that if assisted dying were to be legalised, it should have strict safeguards and only happen in certain circumstances.
Just 13% thought it should be legalised without restriction.
Summary
The BSAS and Times surveys demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the issues at hand.
They show that there is a clear difference between the public perception of assisted dying for terminally ill people, and assisted suicide/unfettered right to die. 4

5. Disabled people’s opinions
75% of people with a disability and 81% without support AD for terminally ill people BSA survey 2007
Introduction
Anecdotally we are told that many disabled people oppose assisted dying, but what does the evidence say?
Well overall, disabled people support safeguarded assisted dying for people with terminal illness.
2007 BSA
The 2007 BSA survey showed that people with a disability were only slightly less likely to support assisted dying in comparison to the non-disabled general public.
Analysis of the 2007 BSA survey found that 75% of people with a disability and 81% without were supportive of assisted dying for terminally ill people* (with 80% overall).[1].
DRC survey
The Disability Rights Commission commissioned a poll in 2003 which found that 60% of disabled respondents supported assisted dying legislation[4].
You Gov 2004
A YouGov survey in 2004 found that disabled people were equally likely to support physician assisted dying as non-disabled people[6]. 5

6. Opinions from religious/faith communities
71% of religious people and 92% of non-religious people agree with assisted dying , BSA survey 2010
“Would the Assisted Dying Bill lead to a duty to die?” 76% responded ‘no’, Church Times survey 2004 6

7. Terminally ill people’s opinions
Overall support was in favour of a change in law with any concerns on grounds of religion or possible abuse - Chapple et al 2006 7

8. Where it is lawful, is assisted dying in the public interest?
Oregon law passed Nov % : 49%
Repeal defeated Oct % : 40%
Washington law passed Nov % : 40%

9. In Oregon in 2007: 30,000 people died in Oregon
15,000 were in a hospice
9,800 considered a prescription
1,050 talked to a doctor about it
Of these 85 received the prescription
49 then used the prescription

10. Where it is lawful, is assisted dying in the public interest?
Hundreds more people take comfort from the law than actually use it.
Just knowing they have the option if their suffering becomes too much provides them with great comfort.
Terry Pratchett expressed this desire for emotional insurance well: “If I could die I would live!”

11. Upholding the law Lord Brown Purdy v DPP Judgment, 30 July 2009
“..he or she may fairly hope to be, if not commended, at the very least forgiven, rather than condemned, for giving assistance.”

12. Debbie Purdy

13. The DPP’s policy
DPP’s policy = effective decriminalisation for amateur compassionate assistance to die
No one wants to see the prosecution of compassionate assisters
To give dying adults true choice, and to protect potentially vulnerable people, we need safeguards

14. Duty to die?
In countries where assisted dying is legal, people in vulnerable groups were less likely to have an assisted death.
We can protect people from a duty to die, whilst also protecting people from a duty to suffer.

15. Advance Decisions
Legally binding document to refuse life-sustaining treatment in advance of a loss of capacity.

16. John’s story