At the meeting of Full Council on Wednesday (12 July 2023) Council Deputy Leader Councillor Simon Spencer tabled a motion on the subject to be debated by all council members.
The motion centred on an open letter written by Dame Prue Leith who is asking national party leaders to listen to the strength of support for choice at the end of life and to bring forward a debate on assisted dying in the next Parliament.
In the letter it is noted that on The Campaign for Dying with Dignity (CfDWD) website, for every day that passes until the law is reformed a total of 17 people will suffer as they die.
According to the CfDWD the British public overwhelmingly supports assisted dying, yet terminally ill people are still being forced to choose between suffering, suicide and Switzerland.
Councillor Spencer proposed a motion to raise awareness of Dame Prue Leith’s letter, debate its content and that elected members, staff and Derbyshire residents who supported the content should be encouraged to add their signatures to it to ask that the government bring forward a debate on assisted dying in the next Parliament.
Councillor Spencer presented the motion by telling the council chamber about his own experience of ill health, and that how suffering a cardiac arrest had made him more aware of how ill health, prolonged suffering or death would affect loved ones.
After the meeting Councillor Spencer said:
“This issue strikes a real chord with me and is one that I know many people feel strongly about.
“When I had my cardiac arrest it deeply affected me, and the fact I was lucky enough to survive made me think about the future, and how I never wanted to be a burden to my loved ones. It also made me realise the importance of having choice over what happens to you when you are extremely ill, in pain or dying.
“At an extremely sad and anxious time when people are facing end of life, they shouldn’t have the added worry that their families will be the subject of investigations or face having to travel to Switzerland. They should have a choice and have control over what happens to them. That is what is important here.
“I know not everyone will share my views but I feel strongly that a person has a right to die with dignity, and that they have choices and control over what happens.
“I was pleased that there was a sensitive and reasonable debate held by council and that the majority of members from across the chamber voted to support the motion and to back the call for a debate in Parliament.”