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2,107 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Eleventh sitting)I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman because he brings me to my second point, which is exactly that—autonomy. We heard in oral evidence, and it comes through from some of the…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Tenth sitting)I understand that much of the difference between us on this may founder on our perception of what is actually happening. She speaks of suicide, and to some of us—certainly to…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Tenth sitting)As the Minister pointed out, the concepts that the hon. Lady is trying to embed in the Bill are already covered by what is a settled legal interpretation and a framework that,…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Tenth sitting)My hon. Friend is asserting that those two things are different, but obviously, those assertions would be tested in court. If a person were to appear in front of the co-ordinating…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Eleventh sitting)Forgive me, but I think my hon. Friend might have misunderstood me. My point was that the more we attempt to police discussions in families, the more guarded they will become; it…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Eleventh sitting)That is exactly my point, and the point on which I was going to conclude. All of the Bill is designed to put control in the hands of dying people as they face what they regard as…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Eleventh sitting)We need to think about this in practical terms. If the word “encouraged” is included in the Bill, a co-ordinating doctor may feel that it is their duty to say to somebody, “Has…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Eleventh sitting)That is not my interpretation of the Bill, no. I would not be content for that to be somebody’s primary purpose—of course not. My point remains: we run into dangerous ground when…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Eleventh sitting)For clarity, is my hon. Friend saying that he supports the amendments because he believes that the only reason that someone should have an assisted death is to avoid physical…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Ninth sitting)I am very pleased my hon. Friend raised that issue, because I was about to come to the practical difficulties that this presents, for exactly that reason. As he rightly pointed…11 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Ninth sitting)I was about to come on to the fact that those questions would indeed be asked through the assessment that takes place. As my hon. Friend knows—we have had a long discussion about…11 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Ninth sitting)I want to clarify what the Royal College of Psychiatrists actually said, because I realise that the hon. Member is relying a lot on that evidence. In an exchange with me in their…11 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Ninth sitting)I am afraid that that is not actually correct. If my hon. Friend is willing to look at my amendments—I appreciate that he might not have got to them yet—he will see that one of…11 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Ninth sitting)Forgive me, but surely the whole point of what we are trying to do here is to give people the opportunity to avoid the natural death that is presented to them. We hear again and…11 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Ninth sitting)indicated dissent.11 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Ninth sitting)I should start by recognising that my hon. Friend the Member for East Wiltshire, who is my constituency neighbour, has devoted much of his adult life to public service. He should…11 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Eighth sitting)Further to those points of order, Ms McVey. First of all, it is worth saying that the amendments tabled by the Bill’s promoter, the hon. Member for Spen Valley, are in response to…11 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Ninth sitting)rose—11 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Ninth sitting)I understand my hon. Friend’s point, but we are talking about people who do not have much time. We have to remember throughout this debate that we are talking about people who…11 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Eighth sitting)I have to confess that I am a little confused by the evidence to which my hon. Friend refers. Can he confirm that it is perfectly possible for me to be diagnosed with a terminal…11 Feb 2025