Further Resources
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Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT)
Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT)Engaging with the Assisted Dying debates faithfully, prayerfully and compassionately blog
10 Minutes on... the Assisted Dying Bill - Steve Tinning and Nathan McGuire in conversation
The Church of Scotland has
prepared some resources in the context of last year’s 'Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill'. They include:
Reflections on issues around death and dying prepared after Methodist Conference 2015
Background to this latest bill and some context of the URC’s considerations around assisted dying in the recent past
Living and Dying Well - while they value rigorous analysis of the evidence, an understanding of the facts, and use of clear and unambiguous language free of spin, euphemism or sensationalism, their position is broadly against allowing physician-assisted suicide. Stronger ‘anti’ positions are taken by
Care Not Killing and by
Not Dead Yet UK (a group of ‘UK disability activists opposed to assisted suicide’).
The organisation
Dignity in Dying campaigns directly for a change to the law and is probably the leading organisation promoting the cause of assisted dying in the UK. Revd Professor Paul Badham sets out a ‘
Christian case for assisted dying’ on their website, and has published a number of books on this and related topics.
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Video and Audio Documentaries
Beyond Belief - Assisted Dying - BBC Sounds
Giles Fraser hears about Alison Davis, who was in pain, very unwell and wanted to die. Her friend and carer Colin Harte describes how she changed her mind and went on to campaign against euthanasia, or assisted dying, and also developed a Catholic faith. The debate about assisted dying, the right to choose when and how we die if we're terminally ill, is back in the political spotlight. Life, death and attitudes to suffering are at the heart of all religions. After hearing Alison's story, a panel of people of faith discuss how their beliefs shape their views on this fundamental question. With Rabbi Jonathan Romain, Canon Rosie Harper, Rev Katie Tupling and Baljit Singh.
Better Off Dead? – BBC One
A documentary on assisted suicide, authored by actor and disability rights activist Liz Carr. Liz debates why she believes we shouldn’t legalise assisted suicide. As a long-term campaigner against that change, Liz fears disabled lives will be put at risk if the law is altered. Travelling to Canada, Liz explores the repercussions of some of the most permissive assisted suicide laws in the world. Here, Liz is confronted with a law that can end the lives of not just the terminally ill but people who are disabled and those who are offered a medically assisted death as a ‘way out’ of social deprivation. In a society where disabled people are often told they are ‘better off dead’ than disabled, Liz asks: ‘Should we really be giving more power to end that group of people’s lives?’
A Time to Die — True Vision TV (+
ITV)
A powerful and thought-provoking feature-length documentary that explores the human cost of the current British law on assisted dying, featuring the emotional stories of five people who all want the right to die at a time of their choosing, as well as why some feel this is a choice they should not have. Made by Oscar, Emmy and BAFTA-winning director Jon Blair and BAFTA-winning producer Rachel Cumella, A Time to Die delves deep into assisted dying, aiming to shed fresh light on a highly controversial issue.