Assisted Dying Draft Letter/Email

Dear XXXX (Your MP's name),

My name is XXXX. As a constituent of yours – my post code is XXXX, and I live in XXXX.

I am writing to ask you to vote against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, brought forward by Kim Leadbeater MP.

From the offset, I appreciate the constraints on your time you must have in your position, and therefore thank you in advance for taking the time to read my concerns, as someone who's views you represent at Parliament.

I am extremely concerned by this proposed bill.

Our society has certain foundational values on which it rests. Justice, Democracy, and in this case the sanctity of human life.

As a Christian in your constituency, I am have an obligation to remind you of the Christian values our country was founded upon.

All human beings are made in the image of God, and therefore have intrinsic value. Everyone is equal as a bearer of God's image. My great concern is that people at the end of their life, and vulnerable groups, may feel pressured into taking this new route.

I believe this Bill is the first step in legislating that some lives matter, while others are of less value, particularly those with a terminal diagnosis, and vulnerable people, like those with disabilities.

The power of life & death are in the hands of God, and we should not be passing Bills that give human beings a power they were never intended to have; 'thou shalt not murder'.

I am very worried about the impact of assisted suicide on our local hospices and care homes, which are already under a huge amount of strain. People in these settings are vulnerable. Under the Bill being considered, doctors are allowed to raise the issue with their patients. People will feel pressure to choose death out of a sense of obligation because they feel like a burden, or because they think it’s what the doctor is recommending – even if that is not the case. 

I was troubled to learn that an amendment to give hospices and care homes an opt out from ‘assisted dying’ legislation was voted down on the 16th of June. If this law goes ahead, amazing hospices and care homes that operate with a Christian ethos would be religiously discriminated against, and may be forced to close their doors. This would be unjust and harmful for the communities they serve.

I know that many disabled people are worried about the Bill because of the message it sends – that lives marked by disability and illness aren’t worth living – and because of the pressure which disabled people who lack state support would feel to choose assisted death.

It would be wrong to legislate for a situation where it is easier to choose death than it is to access support to live. But this is what assisted suicide would mean for many people. 

At a time when NHS services in our area are overburdened, and people are waiting far too long for basic care, how can we even contemplate an assisted suicide law? Patients will not have a genuine ‘choice’ at the end of their lives when they can’t get the best standard of care.

Please stand up for the God given sanctity of human life, and the vulnerable people I have mentioned - and vote against it when it reaches third reading.

Thank you for your time.

Yours faithfully,

XXXX

Contact information:
Your:
-Full Name
-Full Address
-Postcode
-Contact Telephone Number