Death by anecdote

Supporters of the assisted suicide bill love a good story about a bad death. Indeed, playing on the emotions of those whose principal source of news is tabloid headlines has been a core plank of their campaigning strategy. Over the last year, anecdotes about suffering friends and relatives have been commonplace from proponents of the bill, and sure enough, the Second Reading in the House of Lords presented much of the same. Suffering, pain, and tragic circumstances should not be downplayed or minimised — these stories are not incidental, they capture the genuine experience of real people and deserve respect. However, legislation by anecdote, however heart-rending, is no replacement for the rigour and scrutiny which are pre-requisites of good law-making.

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