Together Declaration

ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL: Myth: Assisted suicide will not impact upon the provision of good end-of-life care. Reality: Medical killing discourages more human-centred approaches to suffering, such as the development of better palliative care models and better pain management.

ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL: Myth: Nobody will be offered assisted suicide just for feeling a burden on others Reality: The Bill Committee rejected changes that would have removed “burden” as a valid reason to request assisted suicide Contact your MP: http://together.eaction.org.uk/asbill

DIGITAL ID: "They're calling it voluntary, but how long before it becomes the only practical option?" Patrick Christys asks a key question Using digital systems should be up to individuals, not something you force us all into #NoForcedDigital

ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL: Myth: Assisted suicide is just a personal choice. It’s nobody else’s business. Reality: If assisted suicide is facilitated by the State and funded by taxpayers, it’s everyone’s business. It would fundamentally change our culture and healthcare, create financial incentives to pressure vulnerable people to die, and send a message that some lives are less valued. Contact your MP: https://together.eaction.org.uk/asbill

ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL: "People have had assisted suicide due to eating disorders" - (Kevin Yuill) The idea of "‘terminal anorexia’ dangerously suggests giving up on patients" Amendments to protect those suffering from eating disorders have been rejected by Bill committee Contact your MP: https://together.eaction.org.uk/asbill

ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL: Victims of domestic abuse are particularly vulnerable to coercion Protections against coercion in this Bill are very weak - and the vote is expected Friday Many now very alarmed by this Bill - contact your MP: https://together.eaction.org.uk/asbill

ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL: Identifying coercion in people with Down syndrome, & ensuring informed consent, can be extremely difficult Protections against coercion in this Bill are very weak - & the vote could be Friday Contact your MP: https://together.eaction.org.uk/asbill

ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL: Myth: "Doctors can be trusted to facilitate assisted suicide ethically and judiciously." Reality: Not all doctors can be relied on for virtue and sound judgement. Harold Shipman showed one unscrupulous doctor can end hundreds of lives. The vote on this is expected to be THIS FRIDAY and will be close - it is important to contact your MP ahead of the vote - here’s how: https://together.eaction.org.uk/asbill

POLICING: Police home invasions over "thought crimes" are coming from police and crime commissioners who "haven't got any balls" Harry will be speaking at our live event in London on 5 June - join us: https://togetherdeclaration.org/events/together-live-event/

ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL: "Pain isn't even in the top 5 reasons why people opt for (Assisted Suicide)" (Kevin Yuill) Fear of becoming a burden on family or caregivers is the most cited reason In Canada, 65% of those who took up MAID (Medical Assistance In Dying), cited burden as the key motivator Once normalised, choice can become pressure and even "duty to die" We needed proper debate on all these issues & we haven't had it

▶️Please join us at our next LIVE event! ▶️London, Thursday 5 June, 7pm W/speakers inc Dr Clare Craig, Dan Wootton, Harry Miller, Tonia Buxton & Alan Miller Buy tickets: https://togetherdeclaration.org/5june

ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL: "We have an utterly rigged dysfunctional, very inefficient (healthcare) system" (Dr Bob Gill) What happens with cash-strapped hospitals eager to clear beds, and medics under pressure to ration treatment? It is not difficult to envisage the terminally ill, especially those with little familial support, being actively ‘encouraged’ to make the decision to end their lives prematurely #assistedsuicide

ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL: Myth: Assisted suicide will be limited to those suffering and/or in pain Reality: Neither pain nor suffering feature in the eligibility criteria for assisted suicide, under this Bill

ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL: Myth: Only those with six months or less to live will be eligible for assisted suicide Reality: Those expected to die in six months may qualify, but such predictions are often wrong. 63% of end-of-life prognoses are wrong according to one study, and 20% of those given a six month terminal prognosis by NHS doctors are still alive three years later (source: DWP) We understand there will be a rally event by those concerned about the Bill, on Friday - the day of expected vote Outside Parliament, THIS Friday 16 May, 9am - 12 noon Contact your MP: http://together.eaction.org.uk/asbill

ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL: We understand there will be a rally event by those concerned about the Bill, on the day of the vote Outside Parliament, THIS Friday 16 May Contact your MP: together.eaction.org.uk/asbill #assistedsuicide #assisteddying

"Uber starts allowing customers to pay in cash" "Following trials, the cash payment option was this week extended to all UK cities, except London, where it is being reviewed" Good to see businesses offering the cash option https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g4le9n469o

Myth: "Only fully trained doctors will be able to suggest assisted suicide to patients and process requests" Reality: There is no explicit requirement for the “medical practitioner” processing the request to be a fully trained doctor together.eaction.org.uk/asbill

DIGITAL ID: "Many whispers around identity cards by the backdoor – digital sheen to avoid physical ID cards to which Blair received such a backlash" "Indication of a hidden agenda to justify introduction of digital ID by stealth" https://www.computerweekly.com/blog/Computer-Weekly-Editors-Blog/Distrust-builds-between-digital-ID-sector-and-government-amid-speculation-over-ID-cards-by-stealth