Health Secretary Wes Streeting has pointedly declined to give MPs assurances that the introduction of assisted dying in England and Wales would be safe. Appearing before the Health and Social Care Committee, the minister, who personally opposes the proposed legislation, fell into an awkward silence when pressed on the potential harms of the policy.
Awkward Pause and Palliative Care Concerns
Labour MP Josh Fenton-Glynn questioned Mr Streeting on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which includes an auto-commencement clause bringing it into force after four years regardless of the state of social care. Mr Fenton-Glynn highlighted a current 'workforce crisis' and a 'postcode lottery' in end-of-life care provision, asking if it was safe to pass such legislation.
After a long pause, the Health Secretary merely stated that the decision was for Parliament. Pressed repeatedly on the safety question, he maintained the Government's neutral position. He eventually suggested that a lack of high-quality palliative care services might leave some terminally ill people feeling 'compelled to take up an assisted death', a situation he said the country was not ready for.
Government Neutrality and Parliamentary Battle
Mr Streeting's struggle to answer saw him jokingly thank his top official, Permanent Secretary Samantha Jones, for intervening to 'save me from this line of questioning'. Ms Jones told the committee it would not be appropriate to pre-empt Parliament's work, but said officials would ensure ministers were fully briefed on the Bill's workability.
The Bill, introduced by Labour backbencher Kim Leadbeater, was approved by the Commons in June but now faces a formidable challenge in the House of Lords. Peers have tabled more than 1,000 amendments, a move supporters claim is an attempt to sabotage its progress.
Unacceptable Compulsion, Says MP
Speaking after the committee session, Josh Fenton-Glynn expressed serious concerns. 'Whatever your view on the Bill it should be safe,' he said. 'The Health Secretary couldn't guarantee it was safe and he admitted as it stands people could be compelled to take an early death because of palliative care failings. That's unacceptable.'
The proposed law would allow adults in England and Wales with a terminal illness and less than six months to live to apply for an assisted death. Each application would require approval from two doctors and a panel including a social worker, a senior legal figure, and a psychiatrist.
