London: Hindu and Sikh leaders in the UK have joined Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders to sign a letter opposing the assisted dying bill which MPs will vote on on Friday.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill aims to allow adults, who are in the last six months of their life, to request assistance from a doctor to end their life. The bill says two doctors must assess the request and check that they have reached their decision voluntarily, and then final permission is given by a High Court judge to prescribe an “approved substance” – to self-administer – to end life. gives them.
Cardinal Nicholls, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, as well as the Muslim Council of Britain all publicly opposed the bill weeks ago, with Welby describing it as “dangerous”.
Now Anil Bhanot, Managing Trustee of Hindu Council UK; Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh Ahluwali, Spiritual Leader and Chairman, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sevak Jatha; Tripti Patel, President of the Hindu Forum of Britain; Mehul Sangharajaka, Chairman, Institute of Gynecology; Lord Singh of Wimbledon, director of the Network of Sikh Organizations UK and other faith leaders have co-signed a letter opposing the law.
The letter said they were deeply concerned about the bill’s impact on the most vulnerable, including the elderly and disabled, who could be pressured to end their lives early. They point to Canada and Oregon where promised protectors have not protected the vulnerable and most marginalized. “It’s easy to see how a ‘right to die’ can very easily end up feeling that you have a ‘duty to die,'” the letter states, calling for greater investment in palliative care instead.
The private members’ bill is being introduced by Labor backbencher Kim Leadbeater as her name tops the polls. MPs will have a free vote, meaning they can vote according to their conscience.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood are opposing the bill. In a letter to his constituents, Mehmood wrote: “The state should never provide death as a service.”
But Leadbeater says the law needs to change “to give choice and autonomy to the dying”.
Hindu and Sikh leaders join opposition to Assisted Dying Bill in UK
The bill says two doctors must assess the request and check that they have reached their decision voluntarily and then final permission is given by a High Court judge to self-administer an “approved substance” to end life. is indicated. .