Leading neurosurgeon Henry Marsh, who has advanced prostate cancer, has described a government inquiry into assisted dying as 'absolutely essential'. The 71-year-old retired surgeon and bestselling author received his diagnosis six months ago and is backing a group of more than 50 MPs and peers who have written to Justice Secretary Robert Buckland urging a review of the law.
Currently, assisting a suicide in England and Wales is a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The letter, organised by Humanists UK and campaign group My Death, My Decision, argues that UK laws have fallen behind the rest of the world. Signatories include politicians who previously voted against changing the law.
Speaking publicly for the first time about his diagnosis, Mr Marsh said he felt 'deeply shocked and terribly frightened and upset' as the seriousness of his situation became clear. He had previously supported assisted dying in theory but said he hadn't thought it might apply to him. 'It is extraordinarily difficult to think about your own death,' he added.
Mr Marsh believes opponents of assisted dying fear a public inquiry because 'the evidence is so strong that their hypothetical arguments against it don't hold water'. He is due to start radiotherapy in a few months.
The Care Not Killing alliance, which opposes assisted dying, said the current law protects the vulnerable 'from being pressured into ending their lives'. Chief executive Dr Gordon Macdonald expressed disappointment at the push to legalise assisted suicide during the Covid pandemic, calling it 'out of touch, dangerous and desperate'.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said any change to the law must be for individual MPs to consider rather than a government decision.
