MPs vote down Assisted Dying Bill

Members of Parliament have voted down the Terminally Ill Adults Bill (also known as the Assisted Dying Bill) which ends its passage through the Houses of Parliament. The Bill was brought back by Lauren Edwards MP, after the previous version, sponsored by Kim Leadbeater MP, ran out of time in the House of Lords in the previous parliamentary session. 

BASW recognises that assisted dying is a deeply personal and complex issue, and we have not taken a position for or against it. Our focus has been that if assisted dying becomes law, it must be safe and properly supported with safeguarding at its core.

People who are terminally ill can be vulnerable to pressure, coercion and financial worries. Some may feel they are a burden on their families or carers. It has been our established position that any legislation must have strong safeguards to make sure people are making a genuinely free choice.

We have also consistently raised the issue of mental capacity with parliamentarians, as we feel this had not be considered enough in the previous session. Someone making an irreversible decision needs to have the capacity to make that decision and be properly supported to do so. Social workers have an important role here, bringing expertise in mental capacity and safeguarding. 

Although this Bill has fallen, the issue may come back up in future parliamentary sessions. If it does, BASW will continue to ensure that the voice of social workers, and those who social workers work with, are heard.