Displaying items by tag: Dignitas

Dignity in Dying say that the fact that the number of British members of Dignitas has soared 80% in ten years is ‘evidence’ that the ban on assisted dying is failing families. A total of 33 people had Dignitas-assisted deaths in 2022, ten more than 2021. Dignitas said, ‘It is immoral that we are outsourcing compassion to Switzerland for the few who can afford it. The increase in Dignitas’ latest figures is concrete evidence that Britons are desperate for choice and control over their deaths.’ The 1961 Suicide Act states assisting someone to take their life is an offence punishable with up to 14 years in prison. In December the Health and Social Care Committee said they would hold an inquiry into the assisted dying law, examining all healthcare perspectives in the controversial, passionate debate. Change in the law is opposed by religious groups, saying it undermines the value society places on human life.

41 Guernsey church leaders wrote an open letter opposing introducing assisted suicide. Their letter said, ‘We believe the proposal to introduce a legal provision for assisted dying to be misplaced and dangerous for us as a community, particularly for the most vulnerable in our island. We believe the States of Guernsey should focus on the care of vulnerable people, support hospice care, increase mental health provision, and care well for those with age-related dementia. As a community we need to celebrate and support all of life, and not actively seek to terminate life. We fully support the care that our wonderful nurses, doctors, specialists and those in the caring professions provide on the island.’ The signatories include a hospice chairman and members of the Catholic, Anglican and Methodist churches. If the measure is passed by its parliament, the island will be the first place in the British Isles to legalise assisted suicide. Guernsey is a largely self-governing British Crown dependency.