Preacher's plea for 'Christian compassion' over assisted dying

A Church of England lay preacher with terminal breast cancer has urged members of the House of Lords to "create a more compassionate society" by supporting the assisted dying Bill this week. Pamela Fisher, 64, has outlived the three-year life expectancy she was given when the disease was detected four years ago.

She tries to live fully despite worsening pain and deteriorating mobility but said her "biggest fear of all" is dying "in excruciating pain or distress". Pamela added: "I don't have a bone that's free of cancer. It's all the way through my skeleton and in other places as well. The thing that actually really undermines my quality of life is the idea of a bad death, of dying in extreme suffering and pain. That absolutely terrifies me."

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed a landmark third reading in the House of Commons in June. It is due to face a second reading in the House of Lords over two days, Friday September 12 and 19.

More than 200 peers have expressed a wish to contribute to the debate, which could break the House record for the number of speakers.

Former academic Pamela was diagnosed in 2021 after noticing aches and pains, particularly in her hips. Doctors initially thought she had simply overdone it while following exercise videos made by fitness coach Joe Wicks during lockdown.

After tests in hospital, she was asked to make an urgent GP appointment. Pamela checked her NHS records online before attending and saw the words "extensive metastatic disease".

She said: "It was like time stopped for a moment. When I saw that, I knew I had incurable cancer. We'd had cases in the family and I knew the implications."

Pamela has regular treatment to try and slow the cancer, including monthly injections in her stomach of a drug to prevent fractures. She has made an advanced statement setting out what care she wishes to refuse, should she become too unwell to communicate.

However, she still fears what could happen if her suffering becomes unbearable. "Palliative care can be absolutely excellent but it has limitations," Pamela said.

"That fear is a constant in my life, it's like a weight you carry around. I have seen in my family, I know how it can be. It seems to me that it is just a cruelty to keep people alive if they are dying and it is their wish to shorten that dying process because it's so distressing to them."

The Church of England strongly opposes assisted dying and argues that authority over death belongs to God alone. But Pamela profoundly disagrees and says many others in church congregations share her view.

She explained: "We make life and death decisions all the time, don't we? People choose when they have children by using contraceptive care. If you say that only God has authority over life and death then I shouldn't have been on this treatment, because I would have died within a few months without it.

"I see God as a loving God, and a God who wants us to participate with him. Not a stern God who gives orders to be followed blindly."

A 2023 survey by campaign group Dignity in Dying found more than three quarters (78%) of people who described their faith as Church of England, Anglican or Episcopal supported legalising assisted dying for terminally ill people.

Pamela, of Yorkshire, added: "I just cannot reconcile Christian compassion with a law that forces some people to die a protracted death in agony.

"I believe in the sanctity of life and in excellent palliative care but I reject the assumption that the sanctity of life means that ill people have to endure a painful death against their wishes when they have the capacity to choose.

"In Christianity, and I imagine in other religions too, free will is a major aspect of your faith. You have free will in order to make a more compassionate world."

Pamela was among scores of supporters who gathered in Parliament Square when MPs voted on the Bill this summer, on one of the hottest days of the year.

She said: "It was one of the hardest physical things I think I've ever done in my life, being there. It's a moment I'll never forget, it's seared on my heart. I just felt utter relief."

Issuing a heartfelt plea to peers as they prepare to debate the Bill, Pamela added: "This is a real chance to create a more compassionate society. It has passed the Commons with a clear mandate and received more scrutiny than most bills.

"It has widespread public support and we need this to happen now. Please step up and make this happen. Statistically it's unlikely to come in time for me but who knows? I'm still here."

Pamela's plea comes as 10 religious leaders from various faiths have written to members of the House of Lords voicing their support for the assisted dying Bill, which is also backed by the Express Give Us Our Last Rights crusade.

Their letter represents the views of almost 900 members of the Religious Alliance for Dignity in Dying. It argues that there is "nothing holy about agony" and forcing terminally ill people to "live out their last few months in pain" if they do not wish to do so.

The leaders also challenged the notion that religious people are monolithically opposed to assisted dying, pointing to an Opinium poll last year that found two-thirds of those who follow a religion supported assisted dying becoming a legal option for terminally ill people in the UK. This included 69% of Christians, 65% of Catholics and 61% of the Jewish population.

The letter adds: "It is our view that just as it would be unthinkable to force anyone to comply with assisted dying against their will, it is equally cruel for those who believe assisted dying is wrong to impose that belief on others.

"We sincerely hope that as lawmakers, you will send the message that we live in a compassionate society that has the courage to confront complexity, not one that bases its rules on fear or misunderstanding."

Signatories include Reverend Canon Valerie Plumb, a member of the General Synod, Dr Taj Hargey, an Imam of the Oxford Islamic Congregation, and alliance chair Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain.