Scope responds to legal challenges on assisted suicide

This week sees two important challenges to the law on assisted suicide. Two severely disabled men and a widow have taken their 'right-to-die cases' to the Court of Appeal. Meanwhile Lord Falconer is introducing an assisted dying bill to the House of Lords.

In response to the legal challenge, Richard Hawkes, chief executive of the disability charity Scope, said:
“These are truly heart-breaking cases; but they shouldn’t be the basis for changing the law.

“Many disabled people would be really worried if assisted suicide was legalised. The current law sends a strong message and provides crucial protection.

“This issue tells us a lot about people’s attitudes to disability. Why is it that when an able-bodied person wants to commit suicide we try to talk them out of it and offer them support. But when a disabled person wants to commit suicide we focus on how we can make that possible? Where is the national debate on suicide prevention or support for disabled people?

“It is no surprise that disabled people feel that many people think their lives are worthless and that they are a burden.

“For disabled people the current law sends a really strong message about these kind of attitudes, and above all prevents these attitudes from turning into something much worse.”

And on the bill he added:

“We have heard some truly heart-breaking stories recently; but many disabled people would be really worried if assisted suicide was legalised.

"What is being proposed in this bill may be a step back from the recent high court challenge but it is by no means a moderate option. The current law sends a strong message and provides crucial protection. Previous bills were rightly rejected. Hopefully the Lords will reject this one too."

Read Richard's comment piece for ITN.