Lord Falconer, the sponsor of the assisted suicide Bill in the House of Lords, has said that “pregnancy should not be a bar” to receiving state assisted suicide under his assisted suicide Bill.
Lord Falconer made the comment during the third Committee stage sitting of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in the House of Lords, which would legalise assisted suicide in England and Wales for those with a prognosis of six months or less.
Lord Falconer made the comment in response to Lord Mackinlay’s question concerning whether or not pregnant women should be eligible for assisted suicide under his Bill. He said that other regions where assisted suicide is legal, like Oregon, protect the lives of viable unborn babies from assisted suicide.
“There is a big issue here”, Lord Mackinlay said. “Other states around the world, which have had assisted dying for some time, have differences of view. In Oregon, which has had assisted dying since 1997, there is a requirement to keep the mother alive for as long as possible, particularly when there is a viable foetus. The Netherlands takes a completely different view, with foeticide – where the foetus must be terminated by one means or another, often by intracardial injection of potassium chloride – before the mother can be euthanised”.
“At which end of the scale does the noble and learned Lord prefer these things?” he asked.
“It is clear from the choice that I am supporting that we take the view that pregnancy should not be a bar to [assisted suicide]”, Lord Falconer replied.
Fierce opposition to Lord Falconer’s comments from across society
Lord Falconer’s comments sent shockwaves through social media, as people came together to criticise the proposition.
Former MP Miriam Cates said, “It’s no surprise that those who are pushing the assisted suicide bill also have extreme attitudes to abortion. Once you lose the belief that human life is sacred, it becomes progressively easier to come up with reasons to kill people”.
Baroness Spielman criticised the lack of scrutiny that is being given to the issue, saying, “This indifference to babies’ lives is the same mentality that characterises abortion right up to full term as merely a matter of women’s healthcare. Anyone who pretends that these are not serious ethical decisions has surrendered some of their humanity”.
Lord Mackinlay, reflecting on the interaction, said, “The more I listen to this, the more chilling it becomes”.
Political commentator Michael Knowles said, “This might be the single most morally repugnant thing I’ve ever heard”.
Dr Cajetan Skowronski, a geriatric and palliative care doctor, said, “‘Let’s make sure pregnant women can be killed by the NHS,’ said no moral lawmaker ever. But that’s what Falconer says here”.
Former Director of Legislative Affairs at 10 Downing Street, Nikki da Costa, said, “This Bill is a mess – there are so many difficult issues not addressed, where Parliament should be the arbiter, like this one”.
Baroness Maclean said, “I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard the response”, while fellow Peer Lord Moylan said, “Even the guillotine spared its pregnant victims rather than slay the child. Not so [Lord Falconer] it seems”.
Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said “It is shocking, but not surprising, that Lord Falconer wishes to legislate for pregnant women to be able to end their lives – and the lives of their unborn children – by assisted suicide”.
“The key underlying motive for the push for assisted suicide is radical autonomy, and individuals like Lord Falconer apparently do not view unborn children as people”.
“This piece of legislation poses horrific dangers for society’s most vulnerable people: pregnant women, unborn children, people with disabilities, people in abusive relationships, the homeless, and countless others”.
“It is imperative that the House of Lords rejects this dangerous Bill before it is too late”.
