Good afternoon friend,
What a year the campaign has had! The progress in 2019 is in no small part because of the backing of people like you, so thank you. We may look back on 2019 and think it was the turning point.
Phenomenal progress has been made around the world this year on assisted dying.
There has been incredible progress made abroad - New Zealand is set to legalise assisted dying in 2020 (subject to a referendum), Western Australia passed a law earlier this month and in July Kerry Robertson became the first person to use the new assisted dying law in Victoria, Australia.
Just think, only two years ago assisted dying was illegal everywhere in Australia (just like here, now) - soon one in three Australians will now have access to assisted dying laws. Things can change fast.
Three more US States – Hawaii, New Jersey and Maine – have legalised assisted dying in 2019.
The medical profession is starting to listen.
The Royal College of Physicians dropped its longstanding opposition to law change earlier this year. The Royal College of GPs is now conducting its own poll, and the British Medical Association will do the same next year for the first time in its history.
Medical associations around the world have shown that a position of neutrality allows them to represent the range of views held among doctors and to respect the views of all patients.
These developments might seem small - but they are hugely important milestones for the campaign and are made possible by your support.
High-profile stories in the media have illustrated the devastating effects of the UK’s law on assisted dying and show the urgent need for reform.
Back in February we published an open letter from Geoffrey Whaley written before his death at Dignitas. This devastating story, so bravely told by Geoffrey and his wife Ann, highlighted the torment he and his family experienced after police were anonymously informed of his plans.
Then, in September, 80-year-old Mavis Eccleston was found not guilty of murdering her terminally ill husband, Dennis - in fact they had attempted to end their lives together. The plight of this loving family highlighted just how unfair the current law is when it criminalises acts of love. Compassion is not a crime, and the UK’s broken laws must change.
As compelling as the stories of dying people are, sadly they are just the tip of the iceberg. This year we published shocking new research that exposed The Inescapable Truth about dying in the UK. The research showed seventeen people a day will suffer as they die even if everyone had access to the very best palliative care.
Growing calls from across society for a Government inquiry.
In October 18 police and crime commissioners made a ground-breaking intervention - they wrote to the Secretary of State for Justice calling for an inquiry into the the current law on assisted dying. Yet more evidence that the current law is unsafe and virtually unenforceable.
When half of police and crime commissioners across the country recognise that a law is not working, law-makers have a duty to listen.
Plans for 2020 - we need you.
2019 was a huge year for winning over MPs and a new government in 2020 means a new chance for change - many of you will have brand new MPs and we need your help.
Your help will be crucial in ensuring this new Government know they must act on assisted dying - please complete our 60 second survey.
The last thing is to say a huge thank you. Together, we will change the law.
Whether it's a small donation, signing a petition or contacting your MP - every small action helps to move us a step closer. Your support will, one day, give real choice to dying people.
I hope we all have a restful and well deserved break - we have a busy January planned!
Best wishes,
P.S. It only takes a moment to add your name. Please will you complete our 60-second survey?
