The public is deeply worried about the impact of assisted dying on vulnerable and disabled people, find a major new poll for Care Not Killing.
Asked, “If assisted dying were legalised in Britain, how concerned or not would you be that the following groups would be in danger of feeling pressured into an assisted death?”. Seven in 10 (71 per cent) of those surveyed said those with mental health struggles, 67 per cent the elderly, 65 per cent those who were only or socially isolated, 56 per cent said the victims of domestic abuse and 51 per cent said those with anorexia.
Even among those who support the principle of assisted dying, a majority would be concerned about the following groups, if it were legalised – people with physical disabilities (56 per cent), people with mental disabilities (66 per cent), people with mental health struggles (67 per cent), the elderly (62 per cent), victims of domestic abuse (54 per cent), people with dementia (63 per cent), and people who are isolated or lonely (61 per cent).
While six in 10 (59 per cent) agree that the NHS and Social Care system are in such a poor state that to legalise assisted suicide could risk some fearing poor end of life care that they opt to end their life earlier – including a majority (53 per cent) of assisted dying supporters. And 56 per cent expressed concern that if assisted suicide were legalised, there would be pressure to expand it to include children. This figure rose to 58 per cent among parents.
Dr Gordon Macdonald, CEO of Care Not Killing, commented: “This poll highlights the sense of unease among the public that the Bill could put pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives prematurely, if Parliament rushes the legislation and doesn’t beef up or restore important safeguards such as ensuring each application is scrutinised by the High Court and that people asking for assisted suicide should have to explore all other treatment options, something that is vital to protect those suffering from eating disorders such as anorexia or who have a predisposition to suicide.”
The poll carried out by Whitestone Research, a member of the British Polling Council, also found that the public place great store in the views of doctors. Asked: “When considering whether and how to introduce assisted dying, MPs should pay particular attention to the views of doctors and nurses who look after terminally ill patients, eight in 10 (82 per cent) of those surveyed agreed, a figure that rose to 85 per cent among supporters of assisted suicide.
Two thirds, (65 per cent) agreed with the statement that “the government should prioritise sorting out palliative, social and end-of-life care before considering whether to introduce assisted dying, including nearly six in 10 supporters of assisted suicide.
While the research also found that six in 10 (60 per cent) believe teenagers at age 18 are too young to make mature, settled decisions about whether to end their lives, even if they meet the eligibility requirements for assisted dying, a figure that rose to nearly seven in 10 (68 per cent) of 18–24-year-olds.
Despite the poll finding a majority of respondents in favour of changing the law, when the question of whether people would support a Bill to legalise assisted dying “that allowed patients with anorexia to end their lives”, just one in five (20 per cent) would support changing the law and 56 per cent would actively oppose. Among Labour voters at 2024 general election, the figures were almost identical 52 per cent to 27 per cent.
Even among people who say they support AD in principle, by a ratio of almost two to one they would oppose a Bill that permits this (50 per cent to 27 per cent).
The publication of the data follows a publication of a passionate plea from the UK’s eating disorder charities to amend the draft Bill to ensure that conditions such as anorexia are explicitly excluded. The charities have identified three areas of the draft legislation that need amending and have expressed concerns that attempts to introduce these safeguards during the Committee stage were rejected.
Interestingly the poll also found that if the draft legislation becomes law and problems emerge, the Labour Party will be blamed. Despite the Bill not coming from the Government, of those expressing an opinion, nearly seven in 10 identify see it as a Labour Bill, a figure that rises to around nine in 10 of those who oppose assisted dying.
Dr Gordon Macdonald concluded: “In recent weeks we have witnessed hundreds of disability rights organisations, the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of GP and the Association for Palliative Medicine, all express their concerns with the Leadbeater Bill describing how parts of it are unworkable and how vulnerable people will feel pressured into ending their lives prematurely. At the same time, we have seen safeguards watered down or simply done away, making a mockery of claims that this Bill would be the ‘safest in the world’. Actually, this Bill shares many similarities with the US state of Oregon, which has been the model for many of the previous attempts to change the law. In Oregon, we have seen their law liberalised twice in recent years, while the definition of who can access assisted suicide has been expanded to, with little or no discussion, to include those with eating disorders and even insulin dependent diabetics who refuse treatment. This is before we get to negative effect introducing so called assisted dying has had on suicide prevention. Indeed, a recent study suggests that changing the law is linked with a significant jump in the suicide rate in this state, over six per cent. This is why we urge MPs to fix our broken health care system, which is crisis, instead of legalising state assisted killing. We believe we need more care, not killing.”
Public deeply worried about the impact of assisted dying on vulnerable and disabled people, finds poll
