The assisted dying debate in Wales

The Senedd has delayed visiting on the assisted dying bill twice. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will legalise assisted dying for those who have six months or less to live. This is currently in the committee stage in the House of Lords.

As this Westminster bill concerns healthcare, the Senedd must pass a legislative consent motion, so the framework will apply in Wales. 

The debate in Wales has focused on three major parts: Religion,  the state of palliative care in Wales and agency over death.

“If your head is clear and you just know you’re trapped in this body that where you can’t feed yourself, you can’t go to the bathroom, you can’t wash yourself, you can’t engage with, do the social things you love with family and friends and you’re just, just trapped,” said Karen Harries campaigner for My Death My Decision.

Karen has had ME and Fibromyalgia for 14 years. Currently she lives a fulfilling life but she says one day she will be bed-bound. 

“The reason I feel so passionately is because it will become so personal one day.”

Assisted dying is a right Karen wants to have for herself. She speaks of the conversations she has had with family over her future life and death.

“My husband, I think, is probably terrified in that none of us want to think about us not being together. But reality is that that day will come and I just know with the state of my health, it’s a reality.”

It’s not something I can ignore. I’ve not had the conversations with my children. children. They know what I’m But if it becomes a reality, then it would be very much having a conversation with them and my husband about this is how I feel and hopefully bringing them with me in terms of understanding why.”

However, 250 healthcare in Wales have singed a letter to the Senedd urging them not to give legislative consent. They say the cost of living crisis is causing end of life care to suffer, and assisted dying would make this worse.

Hospice UK has reported that 30% of Welsh hospices are reducing patient beds. 

Additionally, two senior bishops in Wales have called on the Senedd not to consent.

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