Speaking against the legislative consent motion linked to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in the Welsh Parliament this week, Clwyd West MS Darren Millar urged members to refuse consent “for the sake of the vulnerable, for the integrity of our medical profession, and out of respect for the sanctity of human life”.
On Tuesday Members of the Senedd voted to support the plans, that would allow Welsh ministers to shape how assisted dying services could operate on the NHS in Wales if UK legislation on the issue is approved.
The motion passed by 28 votes to 23, with 2 abstentions.
Outlining his reason for voting against it, Darren said;
“As many of you will know, my world view is rooted by my Christian faith, and I believe that every human life is a gift possessed of an inherent dignity that does not diminish with illness, disability or age.
“The sanctity of life is the cornerstone, and has been for a very long time, of all our medical ethics. And as a matter of conscience, therefore, I cannot support a framework that treats some lives as less worthy of protection than others.
“I'm not alone in this conviction. Just this month, a historic joint statement was issued by faith leaders across Wales representing the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Sikh communities. And they've spoken with one voice to warn of the very serious implications that this law could have on vulnerable people.”
Darren said healthcare professionals are also concerned.
He said:
“The Association for Palliative Medicine, representing those who actually care for the dying every single day, remains staunchly opposed to this legislation, as does the Royal College of General Practitioners. They've maintained a position of opposition, citing the unacceptable risk to the doctor-patient relationship.
“And then there's the Royal College of Psychiatrists. They've raised concerns about a lack of safeguards for those with poor mental health.
“Now, when the experts in health and end-of-life care tell us that this will fundamentally damage the trust between a clinician and a patient, it's our duty to listen to what they say.”
Darren also expressed concern that Members of the Senedd were being asked to grant legislative consent to a Bill that is still moving through the UK Parliament.
He added:
“As the Minister has already identified, there are over 1,000 amendments that are still under consideration, and I can't help but feel that we're effectively being asked to sign a blank cheque.”
Concluding, he said:
“The state's priority, in my view, should be to support people at the end of their lives, to alleviate suffering, not to help them commit suicide.
“We face a choice in this Senedd about how we use public money. Welsh hospices are in the middle of a funding crisis, and I believe that we should use taxpayers' money to ensure that as many people in Wales as possible have access to the high-quality palliative care that they deserve, affirming their dignity, the dignity of every single person in this country, until their last natural breath.
“So, for the sake of the vulnerable, for the integrity of our medical profession, and out of respect for the sanctity of human life, I urge Members to refuse consent to this flawed, dangerous and incomplete Bill.”
Watch Darren’s contribution in the Welsh Parliament below:
