#palliativecarematters

[tmarshconnors]

United Kingdom MPs Back Assisted Dying Bill

This week, the House of Commons crossed a chilling threshold. MPs voted to progress the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, a private member's bill proposed by Labour backbencher Kim Leadbeater. After over four hours of debate, the vote tally read 330 in favor, 275 against—a narrow yet profoundly significant victory for those advocating state-sanctioned euthanasia.

To those MPs who supported this bill: You have blood on your hands.

This is not hyperbole. By endorsing the progression of this bill, our representatives have endorsed the idea that life—when deemed inconvenient, painful, or "lacking dignity"—can be extinguished under the guise of compassion. But make no mistake, this is not compassion; this is the cold, clinical calculation of ending lives under the imprimatur of law.

The Veil of Compassion

Proponents of the bill argue that it provides "choice" to terminally ill patients, allowing them to die with dignity. They cloak their arguments in the rhetoric of autonomy, mercy, and modernity. These buzzwords are seductive but hollow. Assisted dying laws are not about protecting the vulnerable—they are about normalizing the practice of deciding whose life is worth living and whose is not.

What starts as an exception for the terminally ill inevitably expands. Look to countries like Belgium or the Netherlands, where the criteria for euthanasia have metastasized to include those with mental illness, disabilities, or even "unbearable psychological suffering." Are we naive enough to believe this slippery slope won't exist here?

Who Are We to Play God?

The core of my objection lies in the principle: who are we to play God? The sanctity of life is not a flexible concept to be rewritten by Parliament. Life is sacred, even in suffering. The moment we allow the state to legislate exceptions to this fundamental truth, we open the door to horrors we cannot fully imagine.

A Failure of Leadership

The MPs who voted in favor of this bill have failed us. They have capitulated to a dangerous ideology that prioritizes convenience over care, death over dignity. Instead of focusing on improving palliative care, offering better mental health support, or ensuring the vulnerable are protected, they’ve chosen the path of least resistance: enabling people to end their lives.

A Dark Day for Britain

This vote represents a dark day for Britain—a day when the principle of "first, do no harm" was cast aside. If this bill becomes law, it will forever alter the fabric of our society. It will send a message that some lives are no longer worth saving, no longer worth fighting for.

To those MPs who voted against this bill: thank you for standing on the right side of history. And to those who voted in favor, remember this: every death facilitated by this law will weigh on your conscience.

Compassion should lead us to protect life, not extinguish it. Britain must do better. For the sake of our humanity, we must fight this bill every step of the way.

[incurableoptimistest1994]

First day this week I’ve actually slept and not spent the night screaming in agony, plus I’m a bit more pink rather than grey 😂! Not being able to have my Botox in my bladder due to Covid-19 sucks, but there’s nothing we can do about it; I just have to live with it. I’m immensely grateful for the support of my palliative care team, who rang me back straight away yesterday when I rang to tell them I was really struggling, and have doubled my new bladder spasms drug that’s definitely helping. I know they’ll do everything they can to Jerome alive and give me the best quality of life. They are working so hard, but still finding time to help every patient 🙏🏻 I’m also grateful for my amazing family who’ve worked so hard to make me smile, and put up with me being grumpy af 😂!! Let’s hope today stays a better day and I get to enjoy it. I wish you all a happy Friday! #palliativecarewarrior #bladderspasmsareabitch #todaywillbeabetterday❤️ #palliativecarematters #mydristhebest #happyfridayeveryone https://www.instagram.com/p/B_W0DFIDRsJ/?igshid=1jkrc7cr9d0wo

[incurableoptimistest1994]

So despite being very hungover, only getting 3 hours sleep, having really bad bladder spasms, and going through a load of stress this morning over a hospital appointment and ambulance transport, I think I managed pretty well filming with this lovely gentleman, Gareth, for BBC Wales news tonight! It’s such a joy to see my story, to see Mei and Gwen’s story, to see my family and friend’s story, being honoured. I hope that this raises awareness, acceptance, and understanding (and funds!) for palliative care young adults. #imgonnabeonthenews #bbcwalesnews #wewonabafta #palliativecarematters #tellingmystory #tellingourstory https://www.instagram.com/p/B3mrcRhhLCg/?igshid=v7uk5ry2ymc8