Unexpected Assisted Suicide Vote: Taking Action

CARE is a member of the Care not Killing Alliance. To find out how to email peers see their guidance below:

Dear Supporter,

Lord Alderdice has just tabled an amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill allowing exceptions to the offence of assisting suicide which reads as follows:

Exceptions to offence of assisting suicide

 Notwithstanding sections 53, 54 and 55, no offence shall have been committed if assistance, is given to a person to commit suicide who is suffering from a confirmed, incurable and disabling illness which prevents them from carrying through their own wish to bring their life to a close, if the person has received certification from a coroner who has investigated the circumstances, and satisfied himself that it is indeed the free and settled wish of the person that they bring their life to a close.'  

On the CNK website you will find a list of peers who are known to oppose the legalisation of assisted suicide. Please write to them urging them to be present to vote against the Alderdice amendment (66), should it come to the vote on 26 or 28 October. We suggest you write to the two or three peers with surnames closest to your own. 

You can either email them by clicking their names on the website (for those whose email addresses we have) or mail them at The House of Lords, London, SW1A 0PW. Given the uncertainties of the postal strike it is currently far better to use email.

We suggest you write as follows:

Thank them for opposing Lord Falconer's assisted suicide amendment on 7 July.

Urge them to vote against Lord Alderdice's assisted suicide amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill if it comes to the vote at report stage on 26 or 28 October.

Say briefly why you are opposed to the amendment (use two to three of the bullet points below).

• The amendment would remove legal protection from vulnerable sick and disabled people who could be brought under pressure to end their lives so as not to be a burden on relatives, carers or the state

• The Coroners and Justice Bill is attempting to tighten up the law to prevent internet promotion of suicide and this amendment attempts to hijack it for another purpose altogether creating legal confusion

• There are no safeguards in the amendment to prevent abuse e.g. there would be nothing to stop a person assisting' a sick person's suicide even if it was not requested, once the Coroner had given permission, and there is no provision for ensuring mental capacity 

• The job of the coroner is to investigate and record the cause of death rather than to give license to others to help bring it about 

• The House of Lords has already this year considered and rejected an attempt to legalise suicide in some circumstances

• The current blanket prohibition on assistance with suicide both deters abuse and allows mercy in hard cases  - it does not need changing  

Many thanks for your support

Care Not Killing