The Assisted Dying Bill - Your Questions Answered

On Friday 29 November, Kim Leadbeater MP’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will have its Second Reading. This vote could well bring about real compassionate change to people who are dying.

But religious and other groups are pushing back against the bill. They claim the topic is too complex and potentially dangerous.

Humanists and indeed a majority of the UK disagree.

Our panel (see below) will present the arguments and guide the discussion. We will aim to clarify the issues and provide accurate information to help attendees inform their understanding of the topic.

Please come along to learn more about this important chance to improve the lives of those who suffer unnecessarily.

We will take your questions live but you can also post questions in advance for the panel by using the comment section on this Meetup page or by emailing [email protected].

And if you haven't done so already, please reach out to your MP to tell them you support the bill and they should too, see here .

Your panel:

• Susan Watt is a science and philosophy editor who works on the HUK campaign for assisted dying.
• Barry Newman is a retired medical doctor (anaesthesia and intensive care), a member of Dignity in Dying and a Humanist school speaker.
• Christopher Geake works with the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network.
• Christian Jensen will moderate. He organises campaigns and activism for Central London Humanists.

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Join us for an informative session on all these points. We will begin with a short presentation of the situation, introduce our panel to give their perspectives and then open the floor to participants to raise their questions.
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Date: Tuesday 19th November 2024
Time: 7pm - 8.30pm
Venue: Zoom (Link provided upon RSVP)
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References and Suggested Reading

The Humanists UK Campaign position on assisted dying

Humanism Now Podcast from CLH, episode with Nathan Stillwell, Humanists UK's Assisted Dying Campaign Coordinator, Campaigns and Communications Manager at My Death My Decision and a member of The Assisted Dying Coalition Secretariat.

BBC Radio, The Briefing Room, episode on assisted dying, featuring practice in other European countries

HUK briefing: ‘Canada’s assisted dying legislation – dispelling the myths’

• HUK briefing:’ Assisted dying and palliative care’: (2024 HUK Briefing on Assisted Dying and Palliative Care)
• Jersey Ethics Review – Humanists UK’s Response
• Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill

Article on disability and assisted dying by medical ethicist/academic philosopher Ben Colburn

Frances Crook, former director of the Howard League with lived experience of a terminal condition, newsletter on shortcomings of the bill

Latest News:
https://humanists.uk/2024/11/11/humanists-uk-welcomes-assisted-dying-bill/

New poll shows every constituency backs assisted dying:
https://humanists.uk/2024/10/16/new-poll-shows-every-constituency-backs-assisted-dying/

We do not charge to attend our online talks – but we ask for a £3.00 suggested donation from those who are able, to help cover the group's costs (we do not have a membership fee like other groups).
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Central London Humanists is a volunteer-run community group. We aim to provide a safe space for the humanist community in London to come together for fellowship, learning and fun. We receive no financial support and are entirely funded by donations from our membership and event attendees.

Our events are 18+ unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. We encourage dialogue, debate, and sharing of information, but ask people to keep their comments cordial. Any individual's views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the group at large.