Lord Deben (Con)

One problem with using the word “compassionate” is that it is a mechanism for suggesting that one’s own answers to these issues are compassionate and other people’s are not. I happen to think that the most compassionate way of dealing with this is, first, to have a society in which we have palliative care of the highest standard for everybody. Then, if you have that, it may be that some would believe that it would be better for them to make a choice to kill themselves. This is what we are debating: not the principle but how you do this. I have given a clear statement of what my principled views are, but I am talking now about the facts of this issue. First, you have to show that you have proper palliative care. Secondly, you have to accept that there will be, in accordance with the Bill, the opportunity for people to decide. Who should make that decision? The problem is that, if you have proper palliative care, that will continue—or it ought to continue. All the information that those people have should be given to the people who are making that decision. My noble friend is absolutely right: there are those who feel that this is a compassionate answer. I suggest that, if they feel that, the opportunity to make that choice should not be in the hands of people who are actually looking after them. I have tried to explain that, first, it makes many people more frightened of hospitals; secondly, it confuses their relationship with doctors; and, thirdly, it is very difficult to see that all those people who are looking after people will want to be involved in this. Fourthly, this begins to get closer to what the people who support the Bill demand should be carried through. We are trying to find an answer and, if the sponsors of the Bill do not like this particular answer, perhaps they can come forward with a proper programme for how to do this, instead of leaving it to the vagueness which our own Select Committee said was unacceptable.