Why I will vote against assisted dying - Highland MP speaks out ahead of Westminster vote
A Highland MP has voiced fears that legalised assisted dying could be seen as an “economically useful” route amid tight budgets and high care home costs.
Angus MacDonald, Lib-Dem representative for Inverness, Skye and West Ross shire, will vote against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill when MPs debate it during a second reading on November 29.
If passed, it would give terminally ill people in England and Wales the right to end their life. Scotland is also considering changes to the law.
With MPs at Westminster being given a free vote rather than having to follow a party line, Mr MacDonald says he will oppose the bill which he feels is the start of a slippery slope.
• CHRISTIAN VIEWPOINT: Assisted dying is a complicated topic
He queries whether elderly people might feel they are a burden to their family, a strain on resources, or a barrier to family plans and opt for the route of assisted dying.
“With care homes being cripplingly expensive and carers hard to find, might some unscrupulous heirs hope to speed up inheritance by encouraging an elder relative to consider this path?” Mr MacDonald said.
“Advocates of assisted dying argue that the legislation will not permit depressed individuals or disabled people to take this route.
“But if this law is passed, restrictions could be eased over time, as has happened elsewhere.”
He also queried whether NHS staff would be required to help someone to take their own life.
Mr MacDonald continued: “Care homes are closing across the Highlands, and our hospitals are full of infirm people waiting for care beds, some only available 100 miles away from their families.
“Workers in the care sector earn less than those in the hospitality sector.
“We certainly aren’t doing a good job looking after our elderly these days.
“With an ageing population we need a much higher investment in care for our older generation than currently.
“With incredibly tight budgets and nursing homes costing well over £1000 per week it is worrying to think that it would be economically useful if people chose to take the assisted dying route.
“I am being contacted by many MP’s and Lords who, like me, feel we should instead look after our elderly and invest in our care sector.
“I believe that this bill is the start of a slippery slope.”
