1 week Ago By [email protected] (James Martin McCarthy)
Gavin Walker, chair of My Death My Decision NI has called on MLAs to legislate for the introduction of assisted suicide in Northern Ireland The introduction of the Choice at the End of Life Bill at Westminster today means that Northern Ireland is now the only jurisdiction on these islands not to have begun a serious political debate on the issue, despite two-thirds of the population expressing support for the legislation here. Assisted suicide is banned in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a maximum prison sentence of 14 years. In Scotland, it is not a specific criminal offence but assisting the death of someone can leave a person open to being charged with murder or other offences.
Read more: Report finds that number of RHI Inquiry recommendations 'unlikely to be implemented' Read more: Sinn Féin become latest to object to draft Public Health Bill In recent weeks, a number of people have spoken in favour of the introduction of euthanasia in the UK including Dame Esther Rantzen who is terminally ill with lung cancer and last year revealed she had joined Dignitas, the assisted dying clinic in Switzerland. Gavin Walker, Chair of My Death, My Decision (Northern Ireland) – a volunteer-led advocacy group campaigning for the introduction of voluntary assisted dying legislation in Northern Ireland – has written to MLA s asking that they now take action to consider how such a law might look. Gavin said: “We welcome the introduction of the Choice at the End-of-Life Bill for England and Wales at Westminster.
However, it brings into sharp focus the lack of political engagement on the issue in Northern Ireland and leaves us the only jurisdiction across these islands not to do so. “My Death, My Decision (Northern Ireland) recent LucidTalk Poll results show that people here want an honest, respectful and evidence-based debate on the issue of voluntary assisted dying. It’s now the responsibility of our legislators to agree the mechanism by which they might take evidence from the 31 jurisdictions around the world where voluntary assisted dying is legalised and formulate legislation that meets the needs of our people.
“Today I am writing to all MLAs urging them to take the first steps in the process by either convening a Citizens’ Assembly on this issue, instructing the Health Committee to take evidence and deliver a report on their findings, or bring forward a Private Members Bill to the Assembly for debate. “My Death, My Decision (Northern Ireland) stands ready to assist any MLAs or political party who want to drive this issue forward to ensure that their constituents have the same opportunity to express their views as is now being afforded those across both the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain.” Get the latest politics news and analysis in your inbox Want the biggest political stories sent straight to you? Each week, our Political Reporter James McCarthy pulls together some of the biggest and most important matters from Belfast and Northern Ireland that we think you’d be interested in reading.
From the hot topics of the day amongst our political parties to other thorny issues inside Stormont and exclusive interviews - we’ve got you covered. Simply sign up to our free newsletter here and we'll do the rest For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our politics newsletter here. Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks.
Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow BelfastLive Facebook Twitter Comment More On Politics Stormont.
