Ms Julie Minns

I will not. Despite knowing this, we stand once more on the edge. We stand on the edge, knowing all the Bill’s flaws. I ask colleagues to pause, to not step over the edge. Instead, we must ask ourselves the following questions. Are we certain that this Bill definitively safeguards against coercion, including self-coercion? Are we certain about mental capacity assessments? Are we certain about terminal prognosis? Are we certain that the safeguards and review mechanisms will be in place? Are we certain that we have ensured that our constituents have access to every possible form of support to live their remaining days well? If the answer to just one of those questions is no, then we should not—we must not—step over the edge. Let me conclude with the words of the friend I spoke of, whose child was failed by our mental health service: “My daughter had a history of serious mental health problems from the age of 13. Aged 22 she went to university and quickly realised she needed more support to manage the change. Despite her history, referrals from her GP and multiple self harm instances that required A&E; community services kept saying she did not meet their thresholds. It led ultimately to total deterioration and 2 years as an inpatient on a secure ward. During this time she repeatedly said her life was not worth living and that she was in so much pain she wanted to die. After much fighting with inadequate and unsafe services, she is now living in the community, back at University and has plans for the future.” In countries such as the Netherlands, her wish to die would have been granted under the assisted dying rules. My constituent says: “I have my daughter today because we do not have Assisted Dying. Please don’t change that.”