Paralympic Champion Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson urges MPs to reconsider assisted dying support

Paralympic champion, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, has urged MPs to reject proposed legislation on assisted dying, supporting a report that labels the move as a slippery slope. The 11-time gold medallist cautioned that altering the law could trigger a "seismic shift" in how the health system cares for individuals.

"I urge Parliamentarians to understand the significance of proposed changes to the law and the seismic shift it would cause to the way we choose to care for people at their most vulnerable," she stated. The proposed legislation is set for debate by MPs on November 29.

"Protecting people is something the current prohibition on encouraging or assisting suicide does well," said Baroness Grey-Thompson. "Parliamentarians should be in no doubt that a change to this law would fundamentally alter the political and societal landscape for disabled people."

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The proposed law, put forward by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, would only apply to terminally ill adults with less than six months to live who have a settled wish to end their lives.

The report from Christian ethicist Dr John Keown argued that the proposed law could "grease the slope", potentially extending to include children or those living with mental and chronic illnesses or disabilities. Baroness Grey-Thompson’s plea was supported by Conservative baron and disability rights campaigner Kevin Shinkwin, who was born with brittle bone disease.

Campaigners against the proposal argue that the safeguards would be inadequate, citing examples from other countries where similar laws have been introduced. "Precedents in other jurisdictions show that safeguards are quickly eroded, and disabled people become targets by default," he said. "We should not be in any doubt: the stakes could not be higher."

However, supporters of the proposed Bill, including Ms Leadbeater, argue that it includes robust safeguards, requiring the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge. The Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has asked NHS officials to assess the potential costs of implementing the new law, warning that it could lead to increased costs for the healthcare system.

Research by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics found that a majority of people in England support the introduction of assisted dying legislation, but only if adequate safeguards are in place to prevent abuse. A survey conducted in September found that 70% of respondents supported a change in the law, while 14% opposed it.