Dame Esther Rantzen has issued a powerful plea to MPs to support a change in the law on assisted dying, describing it as a “vital life and death issue” that the public “care desperately about”. The Childline founder, who has stage 4 lung cancer and has joined Dignitas in Switzerland, wrote to all 650 MPs ahead of a landmark vote on a private members bill brought by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater.
In her letter, Dame Esther urged MPs to attend and vote, warning that the issue may not come before Parliament for another decade. “How many more will be forced to suffer until then?” she asked. She noted that the bill would not apply in her case as “my time is running out”, but highlighted that many cannot afford the £15,000 fee for Dignitas and may have to travel alone to protect their families from prosecution.
The bill, which covers England and Wales only, would allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to end their lives with the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge. Ms Leadbeater said the result could be “very close” and criticised a “disappointing” wrecking amendment tabled by some MPs to scupper the vote. Labour MP Anna Dixon, a co-signatory, argued that MPs needed more time to examine the details.
Ms Leadbeater emphasised that the focus should be on people rather than process, saying: “What I'd actually really like to do in these last few days of debate and discussion is talk about the families, [of those] who are dying horrendous deaths.” Opponents have expressed fears over coercion and called for improved palliative care instead.
