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Assisted Dying

My Lords, the sad stories of trips to Dignitas in Switzerland, together with the two recent cases of mothers and daughters, have been taken up by the media and supported by well known personalities. They undoubtedly make a case for change, but these cases and this publicity have obscured real and cogent arguments to the contrary, which will be made during this debate. My main concern is the position of elderly and vulnerable people who already feel that they are a drag on their family and friends, and that they should die even if, deep down, they may not actually wish to do so. They may feel impelled to agree to die. I am also concerned about the tip of the iceberg. Once legislation is in place, it can that much more easily be extended. The issues and arguments are clear; it is unnecessary to have a further inquiry.