Disability advocates express ‘overwhelming relief’ over assisted suicide defeat

Those speaking up for people with disabilities have expressed relief that Lauren Edwards’ assisted suicide Bill was voted down.

Baroness Rosa Monckton, a member of the House of Lords and mother to her daughter Domenica, who has Down’s syndrome, expressed her “overwhelming relief” that the Bill was rejected.

Last Friday, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was defeated in the House of Commons by 286 votes to 270. Under the proposals, patients deemed to be terminally ill and with less than six months to live would have been allowed help to kill themselves.

House of Lords

Lady Monckton wrote: “My 31-year-old daughter, Domenica, who has Down’s Syndrome, thankfully has had no idea of the battle being waged on her behalf.

“It has been a battle not just for her, but for everyone with Down’s Syndrome or other learning disabilities who could be easily coerced into making a life-or-death decision.”

She added: “I have not been a member of the House of Lords for very long, but I was proud to play a small part in this.

“It was the Lords at its best, doing its proper job of scrutinising and revising legislation. Ultimately the decision to kill the bill was down to the House of Commons. We did our bit, and they did theirs.”

Disabled voices

In a statement, Disability Rights UK also welcomed the Bill’s defeat: “This outcome proves that parliamentarians listened to serious concerns raised by Disabled people, Disabled People’s Organisations, campaigners and parliamentarians about the potential impact this legislation could have had on the lives of some of the most marginalised people in our society.”

“Disability Rights UK has constantly raised concerns about safeguarding, ableism, systemic inequality, the legislative process and the lack of meaningful engagement with Disabled people and our representative organisations”.

The group, which highlighted the “disturbing implications” of the proposals, concluded: “We remain committed to ensuring that Disabled people are at the centre of all decisions that affect us, and to build a society where everyone has access to the care, support and opportunities we deserve.”