L

Lord Deben (Con)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 27 February 2026

Debate

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Contribution

I thank my noble friend for that intervention, and it is important. I have been trying to be very careful not to suggest that those in favour of this Bill are in favour of it as a money-saving operation. I do not believe that is true, but I have to challenge them with simply this: once this were in the system, it would be a serious temptation. There are two big temptations in this Bill. The first is summed up by that old phrase “Where there’s a will, there’s a relative”. There is a real issue about coercion. The second great problem is that you change the fundamental relationship between the ill person and the doctor. You also create circumstances in which it is very likely that it would be cheaper for people no longer to be there. If anyone thinks that that creates confidence, either in the medical profession or in the National Health Service, I do not.

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