Yahoo News Mother with terminal cancer says she feels 'betrayed' by Wes Streeting's assisted dying comments
A mother-of-two with terminal cancer has expressed her deep sense of betrayal towards Health Secretary Wes Streeting regarding his stance on assisted dying. Clare Turner, 59, rescheduled chemotherapy just to speak with some MPs, alongside the My Death, My Decision campaign, concerning the new Bill being debated this month.
Streeting, who plans to vote against the proposed legislation and has asked for a cost analysis on the changes it might entail, has been criticized for suggesting that legalizing assisted dying could actually incur higher NHS costs.
Prior to her address, Ms. Turner did not hide her disappointment.
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"I feel very betrayed by him," she said, "I feel very betrayed. I don’t think he is being honest about his motivations. I think he needs to come out and say ‘It’s something I just don’t feel comfortable about’."
Disputing Streeting's financial concerns, she added: "My palliative treatment is costing tens of thousands of pounds a month (on the NHS). To say actually, it’s going to be more expensive to have assisted dying, he’s grasping at straws."
She further accused the Health Secretary of undermining the NHS and admitted feeling a personal sense of letdown, as she had once ardently supported him.
Stressing the weight that ministers' words carry, she emphasized they should be "careful" and "mindful" with their public remarks.
Of Streeting, she remarked: "I don’t know what his absolute reasoning is but I wish that he’d just come out and say it and be honest."
"He’s saying one minute ‘we want palliative care to be better’ and then the next minute he’s saying ‘this is going to cost too much’."
"What is it? " A spokesperson for Mr Streeting has been approached for a response.
Ms Turner expressed concerns about her condition potentially leading to paralysis and a loss of control at life's end. Without the Bill's passage, she feels she might have no choice but to end her life prematurely.
"I would probably have to take my life earlier than if there was assisted dying," she stated.
A spokesperson for Mr Streeting has been contacted for comment.
Ms Turner, from Devon, said it is possible her condition could deteriorate to the point of potential paralysis, leaving her without control at the end of her life.
If the Bill does not pass, she would potentially feel no choice but to take her own life, she added.
Without such provisions, she fears she will "have to be alone". "I find that just incredibly sad," she added.
Opponents of the proposed law change have raised issues regarding coercion and the rushed nature of the Bill. Veteran MPs Sir Edward Leigh and Diane Abbott have jointly called for Parliament to reject the legislation, advocating for more time to address the "immense complexities" involved.
Sir Edward emphasised the need for a national debate on a new social contract for an aging population with complex health needs in his address to the Commons on Wednesday.
Concerns have been voiced over the scrutiny level that the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, a private member’s Bill (PMB), will receive compared to a Government Bill.
However, Sir David Natzler, the former House of Commons clerk, has insisted PMBs "go through the same legislative scrutiny procedures as Government Bills".
Commons Leader Lucy Powell recently mentioned that if the Bill passes its initial stage, it would "likely" undergo "several weeks" of committee stage where MPs can propose amendments. She added that the Bill is not expected to complete its final stages in the Commons until at least April next year and assured that the Government would make it "workable" if MPs support it.
Ms Leadbeater has indicated that even if the legislation is passed, she does not expect assisted dying to be available for those eligible – terminally ill adults with a six-month life expectancy who have consent from two doctors and a High Court judge – for another two to three years.
