Lord Brian Rix, one of Britain’s most famous actors, has revealed he is terminally ill and called for the legalisation of assisted dying so that he can ‘slip away peacefully’. The move represents a change in heart for crossbench peer Rix, who has previously voted against any change in the law. The British Humanist Association (BHA) has welcomed his change in heart.
In 2006, Lord Rix voted against assisted dying due to his fears that people with learning disabilities might become the unwilling victims of euthanasia. Rix is the President of Mencap. Now, faced with his own agony, he writes ‘I have changed my mind. As a dying man, who has been dying now for several weeks, I am only too conscious that the laws of this country make it impossible for people like me to be helped on their way, even though the family is supportive of this position and everything that needs to be done has been dealt with.’
In September 2015 MPs rejected an Assisted Dying Bill by 330 to 118 votes. Britons wishing to end their lives sometimes consider travelling to Switzerland where assisted dying is legal. Lord Rix said he had considered this option but was unwilling ’to push [his children] into a situation where they are helping me to die’ – and therefore breaking the law.
BHA Director of Public Affairs Pavan Dhaliwal commented, ‘We welcome Lord Rix’s change of heart on assisted dying, and have long supported attempts to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill and incurably suffering people across the UK. Lord Rix has always been right to identify the importance of strong safeguards in any assisted dying law to ensure it is not abused. But where he is now also right is in recognising that such safeguards are possible.
‘An overwhelming majority of the public supports a change of the law in this area. How many more individuals must needlessly suffer before the law is amended?’
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For further comment or information, please contact BHA Director of Campaigns and Public Affairs Pavan Dhaliwal on pavan@humanists.uk or 07738435059.
Read more about the BHA’s campaigns work on assisted dying: http://humanists.uk/campaigns/public-ethical-issues/assisted-dying/
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.