Empty wheelchairs (and shoes) are to be placed outside Parliament by disabled people opposed to the Assisted Dying Bill. Led by members of Not Dead Yet UK, the protest will take place on Friday, 7th November 2014, the day that the House of Lords will next debate the Bill.
Disabled people are opposed to any change in the law on assisted suicide because they fear it will put their lives at risk. They do not accept that the safeguards proposed in the Bill are adequate. Not Dead Yet UK believes that when people ask to be assisted to die, this is often in isolation and before everything possible has been done to alleviate their situation in terms of medical, social and emotional support. Fears for the future are the most common reasons for a person to request assisted suicide.
The empty wheelchairs (and shoes) represent lives that could be lost if assisted suicide is legalised and the attached slogans give voice to those lives. Not Dead Yet UK firmly believes that terminally ill and disabled people need the full protection of the law, especially at times when they, their families and friends may be fearful of the future. That is why we oppose the Assisted Dying Bill. Sian Vasey said, “Many of us need support with our daily routine, washing, dressing, continence and going to the loo but this in no way affects our well-being, or diminishes our dignity. We get the help we need, but we have had to fight hard to get it. Those who develop terminal and disabling conditions later on in life often find it impossible to grapple with the social care system. It is a tragic fact that this is a primary cause of such people wanting to end their lives prematurely”.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Date: Friday, 7th November 2014
Time: 09:00AM – 10:00AM
Venue: Old Palace Yard (opposite the House of Lords)
For media enquiries, interviews and case studies please contact:-
Dennis Queen, 07970 959791 / missdennisqueen@gmail.com
Sian Vasey, 07887 757228 / scvasey@btinternet.com
Roger Symes, 020-7362 0220 / rogersymes@btconnect.com