Paralympian warns assisted suicide Bill puts disabled lives at risk

Celebrated Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson has warned that legalising assisted suicide would make disabled people more vulnerable.

Earlier this week, Kim Leadbeater introduced her Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in the House of Commons, which would allow people deemed to be terminally ill to receive help to kill themselves.

But Baroness Grey-Thompson, an eleven-time Paralympic gold medallist, raised concerns that the Bill would devalue the lives of the disabled and coerce them into thinking dying is their ‘best’ option.

‘Really worried’

The Private Member’s Bill would be applicable to those with six months left to live, but Lady Grey-Thompson warned: “The reality is there’s many conditions of disability that could fit into those six months”.

She explained that the more she looked into the topic, the more concerned she has become, particularly given how quickly safeguards have been eroded in jurisdictions where it has already been legalised.

The Paralympian stated: “I’m not speaking on behalf of any other disabled person, but a lot write to me and say they are really scared.”

She shared how people have said to her: “If my life was like yours, I’d end it”, explaining, “I have a massive amount of privilege. If you think that about my life, what do you think of other disabled people as well? So I am really worried.”

‘Devalued to death’

Liz Carr, a disabled actress and activist, said: “For many disabled people the assumption that we’d be ‘better off dead’ is something that we get used to hearing.

“We do not believe that any safeguard can adequately protect us from coercion, abuse, mistake and discrimination.”

She stated: “We believe that if assisted suicide is legalised, disabled, ill and older people risk being devalued to death.”

Loud and clear

Disability rights activist George Fielding commented: “In a society that often devalues and marginalises disabled people, it is not difficult to imagine scenarios where individuals feel like they are a burden to their families or caregivers.

“The mere existence of legally assisted suicide could send the message that ending one’s life is an acceptable solution to these feelings rather than addressing the underlying societal attitudes and lack of support”.

Spokesperson for Right To Life UK Catherine Robinson said: “Activists with disabilities are spreading the message, loud and clear, that they do not want to introduce assisted suicide.”