My Death, My Decision has counselled against proposals to water down the Human Rights Act 1998, in response to a consultation from a review panel set up by the Government.
In its submission to the Independent Human Rights Act Review, My Death, My Decision highlighted that among the Act’s many achievements, human rights were pivotal to the ‘creation of clear and prospective prosecution guidelines on assisted dying’.
Drawing on the example of Nicklinson – where a majority of the UK’s top judges said the UK’s law on assisted dying interfered with human rights, but then stopped short of formally declaring the law incompatible, to give Parliament an opportunity to change it first – My Death, My Decision also challenged suggestions that the courts should provisionally flag up more human rights abuses for Parliament to solve, rather than addressing them themselves.
Trevor Moore, Chair of My Death, My Decision who want to change the UK’s laws on assisted dying said:
‘Whilst it isn’t perfect, the Human Rights Act 1998 is essential because it provides a means of challenging unjust behaviour, and holding those in power to account. In the case of assisted dying, the Act has been instrumental in enabling those who are terminally ill and incurably suffering to fight for a right to die, and push the UK towards a fairer and more compassionate law.’
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For any more information or comment please contact My Death, My Decision’s Campaigns and Communications Manager at campaigns@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk.
Read My Death, My Decision’s response to the Independent Human Rights Act Review: https://dev.mydeath-mydecision.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Independent-Human-Rights-Act-Review-1.pdf
My Death, My Decision is a grassroots non-profit organisation that campaigns for a balanced and compassionate approach to assisted dying in England and Wales. As a growing movement, we are at the forefront of social change: nearly 90% of the public now favours a change in the law to allow adults of sound mind, who are either terminally ill or facing incurable suffering, the option of a peaceful, painless, and dignified death.
Read more about My Death, My Decision’s campaign for an inclusive change in the law: https://dev.mydeath-mydecision.org.uk/
