MP Supports Right to Die at Home

21.10.04

Liberal Democrat MP Edward Davey has added his support to the protection of terminally ill patients' right to die at home by signing Early Day Motion 1477.

By signing this motion, Edward Davey joins 173 other MPs in affirming the choice of terminally ill patients to die at home and commending the Marie Curie Cancer Care campaign - Supporting the Choice to Die at Home.

Commenting, Edward Davey said,

"Choice is top of the agenda in the debate over the NHS. But can we honestly say that there is any kind of choice in real terms when terminally ill patients are not being given the right to die at home?

"Recent surveys conducted by Marie Curie show that 64 % of all cancer patients would like to die at home in the safety and comfort of familiar surroundings. Only 25 % are given the opportunity to do this.

"The Government urgently needs to work with Marie Curie to address these issues and destroy the barriers preventing terminally-ill patients from choosing where they want to die, whether these barriers are lack of investment in facilities on behalf of the Government, or simply lack of awareness at the choices on offer on behalf of the patients.

"I am hoping that this EDM will draw attention to this appalling state of affairs and put the choice to die at home at the forefront of NHS debate."