mass mediaLib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has said he “intends” to vote against an upcoming bill to legalize euthanasia.
MPs are to debate proposals to give terminally ill patients in England and Wales the right to choose to end their lives.
The bill was introduced by Labor MP Kim Leadbeater after the Prime Minister said he would allow a free vote, meaning Labor MPs can choose according to their conscience rather than having to follow party lines.
The issue has divided parliament, with MPs divided over moral and practical issues.
Sir Ed, who also gave MPs free voting rights, warned that older and disabled people may feel pressured to take their own lives if they feel they are a “burden”.
Sir Ed said he was “open-minded” and would listen to the debate, but added that he would be “more than willing” to vote against it.
The Kingston and Surbiton MP said he was concerned about the “psychological impact” of legalizing assisted dying on the elderly and disabled, largely because his own mother was battling bone cancer.
Sir Ed told reporters he gave his mother morphine to help her cope with the pain of her condition in the final stages of her life.
Despite the pain she felt before her death, Sir Ed said he did not think “she would have wanted” anyone to help her take her own life.
The Lib Dem leader believes the UK should “do better” on palliative care rather than focusing on euthanasia.
He said better end-of-life care would alleviate people’s fears of a painful death and make many cases of assisted suicide unnecessary.
Assisted dying generally refers to a terminally ill person seeking medical help to obtain lethal medication to end their own life.
Across the UK, people are legally prohibited from seeking medical assistance when dying.
Under British law, euthanasia is illegal and is considered manslaughter or murder. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment.
In Scotland, aiding another person’s death may lead to prosecution for offenses such as manslaughter.
MPs will vote on Leadbetter’s Terminal Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on November 29.
Full details have yet to be released, but the bill is expected to be similar to one already introduced In the House of Lords in July 2024which said terminally ill adults with six months or less to live would be able to get medical help to end their lives.
