TDs blast ‘ill-conceived’ and ‘manipulative’ assisted suicide bill

A number TDs have said proposers of the ‘Dying with Dignity Bill’ are “profoundly unaware of the overwhelmingly negative impact” of euthanasia laws.

The bill, proposed by People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny, seeks to legalise the practice of assisted suicide in Ireland. Independent TD Carol told The Irish Catholic that the bill is “manipulative” and provides no meaningful protections for the terminally ill.

“It is not evidenced-based and it is most certainly contrary to best practice within modern palliative care,” she said. “At worst the bill is a manipulative attempt to introduce euthanasia and radically alter the culture of palliative care medicine in favour of a version of personal autonomy.”

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said that while this is a difficult issue for many people, this bill would radically change Irish culture and law. “It [the bill] seeks to make it legal for one person to kill another,” he said in a statement.

Deputy Tóibín warned that the experience of other countries proves that, once legal, it will be “impossible to limit the further broadening of criteria for the ending of life”.

“Requests for euthanasia are extremely rare before it’s made legal but radically increase when the culture changes,” he said. “We urge the Government to assist people with living.”