Assisted suicide law might be used against domestic abuse victims, warn women of religion

Over 100 “women of religion” have put their names to an open letter warning that the proposed legalisation of assisted suicide poses an actual threat to victims of domestic violence, who could find themselves coerced or pressured into ending their lives.

Among the signatories to the letter are the Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, and representatives of other faiths. 

They state that while all of them have different views on the principle of assisted suicide, they’re united in the idea that the proposed laws “has insufficient safeguards to guard among the most marginalised in society”.

The letter states that the brand new law might be utilized by domestic abusers to coerce vulnerable women into committing state-assisted suicide.

As evidence, the ladies cited a recent report which suggested that, even without the laws, more domestic abuse victims commit suicide than are killed by their abusers.

The letter also joins with other critics of Kim Leadbeater’s bill in stating their concern that a High Court judge isn’t any longer required to provide approval for an individual to finish their life.

At second reading of the proposed bill in November many MPs who were concerned in regards to the lack of safeguards were reassured by the necessity for High Court approval and voted in favour of the law. This requirement was later watered right down to a panel of experts, causing many MPs who had previously supported the law to have fresh concerns.

Other criticisms towards the bill include an absence of protections for those with learning disabilities and anorexia.

The open letter concluded, “If assisted dying is seen as a response to alleviate suffering, without addressing the underlying structural issues that make life difficult and safeguard against harm, it could put undue pressure on vulnerable women to decide on death over inadequate care.

“This isn’t any method to legislate, especially not on matters of life and death. We have serious concerns in regards to the bill and its lack of safeguards. The bill has an excessive amount of potential to harm vulnerable people and so we’re uniting as women from across faith traditions to talk up for vulnerable women, including victims of violence against women and girls, and disabled women, and lift our concerns publicly.”