My Lords, I am well aware that the Committee wishes to move on, so I appeal to its forbearance to allow me to make a couple of remarks. It is 10 years and two days since I lodged formally my proposal in the Scottish Parliament, a precursor to Margo MacDonald’s Bill. My proposal was the Right to Die for the Terminally Ill Bill, and I was well aware at that point of the criticisms of those who opposed it: that I was using emotionally charged language or euphemism, or softer language than it necessarily should be. The context in the proposal referred to physician-assisted suicide. Over the 10 years I have had an interest in this, having lodged a proposal in a legislature with a distinctly different background from the legislation on suicide in England and Wales, I have come to the conclusion that the terminology and definition in this Bill is absolutely correct.
Over the last 10 years, I have been struck that those people who would wish to use the protections under such a Bill—I believe that they are protections—are the least suicidal people you could find. They are people who love life and strive to live as long as they possibly can, but their life is being robbed from them because of a terminal illness. They come to the conclusion that they wish to have control in their remaining days, whereas control is being removed from them. I agree absolutely that language and terminology are important, and that truthfulness is vital. I am slightly upset when it is alleged that some of us who are on a different side in this debate are less truthful than others. Second Reading was a profoundly important moment, when we respected each side in the debate. Having used the different terms myself, over those 10 years I have come to these conclusions.
My fear is that, by these amendments, we will enter into a different debate, which the debate on this grouping has moved into: the wider issue about society and the elements of moral opprobrium that come with that. That is why, on Amendments 25ZA, 45ZA and 45B, I regret that the term “commit suicide” is now entering into the debate. It is no accident that the Samaritans clearly state that this is now inappropriate language because it predates the 1961 English and Welsh legislation. Indeed, in guidance to the media, which I read this morning before coming to your Lordships’ House, the Samaritans categorically state that the media should not use the term “commit suicide” because of some element of moral opprobrium.
It is interesting that the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Carlisle is taking part in this debate. When I reread the Second Reading debate in your Lordships’ House on the 1961 Bill, I noted that his predecessor as Bishop of Carlisle spoke from the Bishops’ Benches. In that debate, Lord Denning succinctly and clearly showed, as my noble friend Lord Dobbs and others have indicated, what the practice in the Church of England then was for those who had died by suicide. It is interesting to note that there is, I understand, a motion to change canon law on funeral procedures for those in the Church of England who die by suicide. I know it is a live issue.
Let me draw my remarks to a conclusion as I know the Committee wishes to move on. I hope that collectively in society we have over the past 50 years begun to change our approach to suicide. I hope so; two of my family members have indeed died by suicide. I am glad that we have made progress. There is a major difference between someone who is healthy in body but not necessarily in mind feeling that the only recourse for them is to take their own life and die by suicide, and someone who is relishing life, wishes to carry on, wishes to strive for life and is sound of mind but has a terminal illness that is taking that away from them who wishes to have control in their last few days. While I hear the arguments about clarity, truthfulness and avoiding euphemism, there is a very distinct difference. We know the difference in society, the public outside this House know there is a difference, and that is why I hope we will settle on the Title used by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer.