Member

I think the Bill is predicated upon the existence of an informed, independent decision—that has already been spoken about at length, so I will curtail my remarks. But people feel very vulnerable, and I think one of the things we learned to do as children was to trust the doctors—the doctors would come and help us—but when these conversations are going to be had with people at their weakest and most vulnerable, they may well feel that they should save everyone the cost of letting them die in dignity and peace naturally by opting for assisted dying. Many people have said that they feel that they might be unable to trust doctors. The people who say that particularly include those who have existing disabilities and who have had experiences in A&E departments and things like that where assumptions have been made as to the value and dignity of the lives they live. I was going to quote Dr Rachel Clarke on these moments of peak vulnerability, but the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, did that very articulately.