We are profoundly disappointed and gravely concerned following the passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill through the House of Commons on 20th june.

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This decision, despite compelling evidence and testimony from disabled people, doctors, and human rights experts about the inherent risks, ignores the stark reality: such legislation places vulnerable terminally ill and disabled individuals in danger. It sends a damaging message that some lives are less worth living and less worth protecting.

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We are devastated that MPs have chosen to pass this dangerous bill. This is not autonomy; it is a failure to protect those most at risk from societal pressure, isolation, and inadequate support. Legalising assisted dying for terminally ill people creates a lethal pathway where the 'choice' to die can become a duty for those who feel they are a burden. Disabled lives are on the line.

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The Fight Continues in the house of Lords

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While deeply disheartened, our resolve is strengthened. The battle now moves to the House of Lords, where we will redouble our efforts to ensure Peers fully understand the discriminatory impact and potential for coercion inherent in this legislation.

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Key Focus for the Lords:

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• Mitigating Harm: We implore Peers to scrutinise this bill line by line with the utmost rigour. Every possible amendment must be sought to mitigate the foreseeable harms to disabled and terminally ill people.

• Highlighting Risks: We will continue to present the overwhelming evidence from jurisdictions with similar laws, demonstrating the 'slippery slope' effect and the disproportionate impact on disabled, elderly, and socio-economically disadvantaged individuals.

• Demanding Robust Safeguards (if applicable): Should the bill progress, we will fight relentlessly for the strongest possible, independently verifiable safeguards – though we maintain that truly safe assisted dying laws for vulnerable groups are impossible.

• Championing Alternatives: We urge the Lords to focus parliamentary energy and resources on guaranteeing universal access to high-quality palliative care, social care, mental health support, and financial aid – the real measures that provide dignity and choice at the end of life.​

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The passage of this bill in the Commons is a setback, but it is not the end. We call upon the House of Lords to act as the vital revising chamber it is meant to be. They must listen to the voices of disabled people whose lives are directly threatened by this legislation and act to protect them. Not Dead Yet UK and our allies will be there every step of the way, fighting to prevent this dangerous law from causing irreparable harm.