Rishi Sunak Says He Will Support Assisted Suicide With Conditions

Rishi Sunak has lent his support to the legalization of assisted suicide.

The prime minister of the UK has approved of the historic change and stressed the need to implement the appropriate protections.

After promising earlier this year to provide enough time in Parliament for a comprehensive debate of any new law, his words were the most direct, yet indicating his personal views.

The Conservative platform last week highlighted the moral dilemmas that members of parliament face when considering assisted suicide. It did, however, emphasize the value of palliative care for the terminally sick, proving that the importance of this discussion could never be overstated.

A reform in the legislation has now received the open support of the leaders of the two major political parties. Assisting another person in taking their own life carries a maximum sentence of fourteen years in prison under current legislation.

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, has shown his support for changing the law. While serving as Director of Public Prosecutions, Starmer established standards that made it less likely that family members would be sued for acts of compassion.

When asked about his position on assisted dying laws at the G7 conference in Italy, Mr. Sunak cited the manifesto and said that the government would support parliamentary votes since these issues are always a question of personal belief. He does not object to them in theory and thinks it is critical to ensure the appropriate protections are operational. 

After receiving a stage four lung cancer diagnosis, prominent activist Dame Esther Rantzen expressed her joy at the news last night. Rantzen is fighting for the right to end her life painlessly. 

Dignity in Dying’s chief executive, Sarah Wootton, stressed that the prime minister and opposition leader must pledge to have a comprehensive debate and vote on assisted suicide. A significant step, she said, is that none of them is opposed to reform. Voting for politicians who support compassionate choice is a last chance for people who are very close to the end of their lives. Thus, this general election is crucial for them.

Care Not Killing’s chief executive, Dr. Gordon Macdonald, argues that the prime minister’s opinion on euthanasia and assisted suicide has not changed and that these new remarks do not show that he has changed his mind.