The Assisted Dying bill was passed in the House of Commons by 55 votes and now moves on for further consideration. In this Religion Media Centre briefing, a panel of religious leaders, academics and hospice chaplains consider the repercussions of the bill after a hotly contested debate that was highly emotional.
Among their issues of concern were what happens to medical staff within the small teams dealing with terminally ill patients, who refuse to have anything to do with it, some on the grounds of their faith. How is palliative care to be improved amid so many other needs in the NHS? How are vulnerable people to be protected?
There were wider issues thrown up in the debate – we need as a society to talk about death and the fear associated with it. What is the place of religion in society now that Christian influence is waning, and will this decision be seen as an act of betrayal by the NHS, destroying trust in a public service which is always there to care and repair except in death. Hosted by Ruth Peacock, the panel included:
- Dr Matthew Doré, honorary secretary of the Association of Palliative Care Medicine for Great Britain and Ireland
- Bishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues
- Dr Mansur Ali, Senior Lecturer in Islamic Studies, Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK, University of Cardiff
- Rev Professor Douglas Davies, Dept of Theology and Religion, and Director of the Centre for Death and Life Studies
- Rev Karen Murphy, hospice chaplain for 25 years, now at Weston Hospicecare in Weston Super Mare
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