Member

The noble Baroness, Lady Coffey, then emphasised the need—and it is a vital need—to protect against coercion. We have debated that issue for many hours, but the risks of coercion have to be balanced against the wishes and interests of dying people who want to voluntarily end their lives. The opponents of the Bill have given little, if any, weight to those wishes and interests. Why? Because they oppose the principle of the Bill. Even more important than the damage to the reputation of this House is the failure of this House to give proper concern to the wishes of those who are dying and who do want voluntarily to end their lives.