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Dying condemned to suffer, says campaign chief after Assisted Dying Bill defeated

MPs have been accused of turning a blind eye to people suffering after they overwhelmingly rejected proposals to legalise assisted dying.

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Rob Marris, MP for Wolverhampton South West introduced a Private Member's Bill – where backbenchers can propose legislation – to give the House of Commons its first vote on assisted dying since 1997.

But following a five-hour debate MPs voted overwhelmingly, by 330 to 118, against the Assisted Dying Bill, ending its process through the Commons.

Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said MPs were turning a 'blind eye' to dying people's wishes.

She said: "With the overwhelming majority of the public supporting the Bill it is an outrage that MPs have decided to retain the current law which the former Director of Public Prosecutions, the House of Lords, and the public all believe is leading to suffering and injustice for dying people.

"By rejecting the Bill Parliament has in effect decided to condone terminally ill people ending their own lives but refused to provide them the adequate protection they need. Suffering will continue as long as MPs turn a blind eye to dying people's wishes."

With David Cameron opposed to it altogether the matter is now likely to be settled for at least the next five years.

Campaigners against assisted dying have hailed the decision and praised MPs.

Rev Jonathan Somerville, of Tabernacle Baptist Church, Wolverhampton, was one of 36 religious professionals who wrote an open letter to Rob Marris objecting to the proposals amid concerns it would have unintended consequences and put people under pressure to end their lives.

He said: "I really appreciate the way in which the debate was help with tremendous respect. It showed the best of Parliament. I welcome the vote and my prayer is this debate will lead us all to consider how best we care as a society for those at the end stages of life."

During the debate Mr Marris told MPs: "The current law does not meet the needs of the terminally ill, does not meet the needs of their loved ones. And in some way it does not meet the needs of the medical profession.

"We have amateur suicides going on. We have what would be technically illegal assistance going on. We have those who have the means going off to Dignitas in Switzerland.

"It is time Parliament grasped this issue."

He promised his bill contained safeguards to stop anyone being forced to take their own lives. Two doctors, independent of each other, would have had to agree that the person was of sound mind and had no more than six months to live anyway. And a judge would have had the final say.

But on the issue of people who may feel a 'burden' on their families Mr Marris said: "I hope that patients do not feel that, but I cannot guarantee it."

"The coercion of the vulnerable is the most difficult issue for me. That's where the context should be borne in mind. This bill provides protection for the living. What we have at the moment is protection for the dead when it is too late. Because it is only after people die in questionable circumstances that an investigation is made."

Protesters on both sides of the argument stood outside the Houses of Parliament for the landmark debate.

The chamber is normally only sparsely attended on Fridays as MPs spend time in their constituencies.

MPs who voted in favour included West Bromwich West's Adrian Bailey, Wolverhampton South East's Pat McFadden, Wolverhampton North East's Emma Reynolds and Walsall North's David Winnick. Voting against were Stone's Sir Bill Cash, Stourbridge's Margot James, Stafford's Jeremy Lefroy, Cannock Chase's Amanda Milling, Halesowen and Rowley Regis' James Morris,Aldridge-Brownhills' Wendy Morton, Warley's John Spellar, Walsall South's Valerie Vaz, South Staffordshire's Gavin Williamson and Dudley South's Mike Wood. Many of the speeches warned of risks in the proposed law. Former defence secretary Liam Fox added: "It is all too easy to open a Pandora's Box with unintended consequences. It fundamentally changes the relationship between doctor and patient."

But follow Telford MP Lucy Allan warned: "A vote against this bill will not stop assisted dying, it will simply send a message that we will not debate it further." She read out a letter from a constituent who told how she watched her mother suffering and had thought of smothering her, but had not. "It's their life, not ours," she added.

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