Assisted Dying Bill [HL]

Debate between Lord Falconer of Thoroton and Baroness Masham of Ilton

Friday 16th January 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Falconer of Thoroton]

I will take that up. With regard to my Bill, if the situation were reached—the noble Baroness, Lady Campbell, referred to this—that somebody had very low air and decided to take advantage of my Bill, they would have to get two doctors to approve it and the High Court of Justice would have to say yes. That is a very different situation from the one that the noble Lord describes. My Bill gives much greater protection as regards somebody who is asking for death than the situation that the noble Lord describes. It is for that reason that I cannot understand why he says that my Bill might make it worse.

[Baroness Masham of Ilton]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Masham of Ilton]

Can the noble and learned Lord say if he thinks that pressure might be put on some vulnerable people from family members who want to save money?

[Lord Falconer of Thoroton]

The Oregon experience is that that does not happen, but the safeguards—two doctors, and the High Court judge approving it—are in my view sufficient to prevent the sort of abuse to which the noble Baroness refers.