Even Brits who back assisted suicide think it is ‘too complicated to safely introduce’

More than four in ten Brits who support assisted suicide have signalled serious doubts about its safety, a new poll has revealed.

The survey of 2,001 British adults by Whitestone Insight, on behalf of think-tank Living & Dying Well, showed that 42 per cent of those in favour of changing the law admitted there are “too many complicating factors to make it a practical and safe option”.

Moreover, half of pro-assisted suicide respondents agreed that removing end-of-life protections would fundamentally change the doctor-patient relationship.

‘Suspicious’

Living & Dying Well said the poll “pushes back against the narrative frequently promoted by those who say the public support a change in the law and highlights the serious concerns” of ordinary people that must be considered by Parliamentarians.

The group highlighted that the public becomes “increasingly suspicious” of assisted suicide as “disturbing evidence emerges from places like Canada”, where people who cannot access the care they need have been approved for euthanasia.

Paralympic legend Tanni Grey-Thompson, Chair of Living & Dying Well, concluded that the more people know about the issue, the more likely they are to reject it.

Proposals

The House of Lords is expected to debate legalising assisted suicide over the coming months.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton is introducing his Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill, which aims to allow assisted suicide for those deemed to have less than six months to live. The proposals are likely to be debated later this year.

The Prime Minister has said he is more determined than ever to grant MPs time to consider axing end-of-life protections, so the Bill could be favoured if it reaches the House of Commons.