SIGN DAME PRUE LEITH’S OPEN LETTER TO PARTY LEADERS

“For every day that passes until we reform our law, 17 people will suffer as they die.”

The British public overwhelmingly supports assisted dying, yet terminally ill people are still being forced to choose between suffering, suicide and Switzerland. So many of us see this injustice – it’s time that Westminster sees it too.

Ahead of the next General Election, Dame Prue Leith is asking party leaders to listen to the strength of support for choice at the end of life, and bring forward a debate on assisted dying in the next Parliament.

Please sign Dame Prue’s open letter and join us in calling for a debate on this vital issue.

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Dear Party Leaders,

Seeing my brother, David, die a wretched death, and making my recent Channel 4 documentary, has reinforced my view that dying people should have the option to die at a time, manner and place of their choosing. Some people’s suffering is beyond the reach of even the best palliative care.

Few issues unite the country with the strength of feeling there is on assisted dying. People of every age, area, or political stance, overwhelmingly support reforming our current law, which forces people facing a bad death to choose between suffering, suicide and Switzerland.

The public should surely have a safe and legal option to end their suffering in a peaceful and dignified manner. For every day that passes until we reform our law, 17 people will suffer as they die.

We need a national debate on assisted dying, as is happening now in Ireland, Jersey, the Isle of Man and France. In Scotland legislation is being prepared. Assisted dying is already legal in 26 jurisdictions throughout the world.

I ask you, as you prepare for the next General Election, to listen to the voices of those most affected by this issue – dying people and their families. Please bring forward this important debate in the next Parliament as a matter of urgency.

I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this further.

Thank you,

Dame Prue Leith
Dignity in Dying Patron

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