Assisted Dying: Legislation Debate

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Department: Scotland Office

Assisted Dying: Legislation

Lord Watts Excerpts
Monday 16th January 2017

(7 years, 11 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Watts Portrait Lord Watts (Lab)
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My Lords, the Government may be aware that I have had to watch both my late wife and my father die a lingering death. Can I suggest that the Government need to accept responsibility for this matter? They should not duck the decision to give people the opportunity to make this important decision about how they die.

Lord Keen of Elie Portrait Lord Keen of Elie
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Again, I can understand the noble Lord’s interest and concern in respect of this matter but I would observe that Parliament has twice addressed this issue in the recent past and has determined not to relax the provisions of Section 2 of the Suicide Act.