Week 20 - Storms, White Ribbon and Assisted Dying
Storm Bert has hit the area hard. With rivers bursting their banks, and roads and railways underwater we are seeing the result of a month’s or more rain falling in 1 day – again.
I think we can be in no doubt that the climate has changed, and my sympathies go out to everyone who experienced flooding or was trapped in the waters over the weekend. If you are having difficulties getting help, please do email me. My office is now nearly at full strength, and if we can help we will be pleased to do so.
Monday 25th was International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and I am pleased to be supporting the White Ribbon organisation that is working to prevent violence against women and girls through men changing their attitudes.
Men have a large part to play in helping point out unacceptable behaviour towards women. This starts to change long-established and harmful attitudes, systems and behaviours that perpetuate inequality and violence.
We recently saw on the Graham Norton show Saoirse Ronan pointing out that women must think about their security all the time. Most men may not realise that, as the other guests showed when joking about using a phone in self-defence. I hope that White Ribbon can help to raise awareness and play a part in making everywhere safer for us all.
The big debate in Parliament this week is the Assisted Dying bill on Friday 29th. I have been receiving many emails for and against this potential change to allow someone to choose to end their own life, after a terminal diagnosis on a six-month timescale.
Some of the stories in my inbox of personal experience of family members in unbearable pain have been deeply impactful. To be able to choose to end that would have been a massive relief for them.
I think we have to accept that if you have sufficient money, the option is already open to fly to Switzerland and go to Dignitas. However, I have also had stories of not being able to bring relatives back to be buried in the UK.
On the other hand, I have had emails stressing the sanctity of life, the danger of coercion and the idea of the thin end of a wedge or a slippery slope. The documentary by Liz Carr did show how the idea might put pressure on vulnerable people.
I have been considering the safeguards proposed in the bill. Restricting access for a six month end of life diagnosis, with two doctors and a judge approving, and that the dose must be self-administered – combined with a 14 year jail term for anyone found to have been coercive.
I will listen closely to the debate…
The vote on Friday isn’t the end of the debate. If it passes, it moves to the period of deeper inspection and deliberation in committee and other stages of a bill going through parliament.