Monday October 10th is not just world mental health day it is also the day that the assisted dying bill for the terminally ill gets discussed at the house of lords. Now assisted dying is maybe something that lots of people think shouldn't be discussed but we in the NUS SWD Campaign believe that it should be and at our last conference we discussed the bill and the vote was that NUS SWD Campaign is in support of it.

The Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill is a Bill that we support, and a Bill that we will campaign for. The NUS SWD Campaign believes that this Bill will protect vulnerable disabled people more than current law does at present. Everybody has the right to refuse treatment that will prolong their life, even if it means it will cause their death. We believe this Bill will give any terminally ill person affected a reasonable alternative to suffering, as long as they pass all the criteria laid down for their own protection. There are other Jurisdictions that already have a similar bill in place, and from where evidence has been gathered, it shows that it does not encourage people to end their lives, but gives them an alternative to dying an undignified, unbearably painful death. We have been campaigning on this bill and are asking Students' Unions to seriously consider campaigning for the the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill to pass through the House of Lords. We already have the right to live. We should, providing we are terminally ill and meet stringent safeguards, also have the right to die. To find out more about the bill and the NUS SWD stance on it go to www.officeronline.co.uk/campaignsupport/swd/dontdissmyability/271411.aspx

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