The Falconer Commission on 'Assisted Dying', which publishes its report today, has been accused (quite rightly) of being unnecessary, biased and lacking transparency. It was sponsored by Dignity in Dying, formerly the Voluntary Euthanasia Society, and financed by Terry Pratchett one of their patrons, with panel members being handpicked by Lord Falconer (pictured), a leading advocate of changing the law.
Nine of its eleven members were known backers of assisted suicide with a strong ideological vested interest in this as the outcome.
Asking this group for guidance on assisted suicide laws is like asking Philip Morris and British American Tobacco to advise on smoking legislation!
Here is the (long) list of 46 individuals and 40 organisations who were invited to give evidence to the commission but refused to do so.
Individuals
Dr Idris Baker, Consultant and Lead Clinician in Palliative Medicine,
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health Board
Dr Christopher Baxter, Medical Director, North London Hospice
Professor Nigel Biggar, Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology,
University of Oxford
Dr Krishnakant Buch, GP, Lower Broughton Health Centre, Salford
Baroness Jane Campbell, crossbench life peer and Chair, All Party
Parliamentary Disability Group
Rt Revd and Rt Hon Richard Chartres, Bishop of London
Dr Mark Clayton, GP, Bideford Medical Centre, Devon
Lord Nigel Crisp, crossbench life peer, House of Lords
Dr Andrew Davies, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Royal Surrey County
Hospital
Alison Davis, National Coordinator, No Less Human
Dr Jennifer Dixon, Director, Nuffield Trust
Professor Phil Fennell, Professor of Law in Cardiff Law School, University of Wales
Dr David Feuer, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, St Bartholomew’s
Hospital, London
Frank Field MP
Baroness Ilora Finlay, Professor of Palliative Medicine, Cardiff University
School of Medicine
Dr Rob George, Consultant in Palliative Care, Guy’s and Thomas’ Foundation Trust
Baroness Brenda Hale, Justice of the Supreme Court
Chris Ham, Chief Executive, The King’s Fund
Lord Khalid Hameed, crossbench life peer
Professor Rt Rev Lord Harries, crossbench life peer and Gresham Professor of
Divinity
Diane Haywood, Macmillan Lead Nurse, Specialist Palliative Care, Barts and
the London NHS Trust
Professor Irene Higginson, Professor of Palliative Care and Policy, King’s
College London
Dr Andrew Hoy, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Princess Alice Hospice,
Surrey
Tessa Ing, Head of End of Life Care, Department of Health
Dr Jeremy Johnson, Medical Director, Severn Hospice, Shrewsbury
Professor Allan Kellehear, Director for the Centre for Death & Society
Professor Sir Ian Kennedy, Emeritus Professor of Health Law, Ethics and
Policy, University College London
Professor John Keown, Professor in Christian Ethics, Georgetown University
Lord James Mackay of Clashfern, Chairman of the Select Committee on the
Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill
Dr Wendy Makin, Christie Hospice, Manchester
Barbara Monroe, Chief Executive, St Christopher’s Hospice
Rt Revd James Newcome, Bishop of Carlisle
Dr Gareth Owen, Honorary Consultant, South London and Maudsley NHS
Foundation Trust
Rt Rev George Pitcher, Curate, St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street
Rt Rev Dr Lee Rayfield, Bishop of Swindon
Lord Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of
the Commonwealth
Dr Peter Saunders, CEO, Christian Medical Fellowship
Professor Julian Savulescu, Uehiro Chair in Practical Ethics, University of
Oxford
Peter Southern, Affiliated Social Worker, Barts Cancer Centre Palliative Care
Team, Barts and The London NHS Trust
Dr Patrick Stone, Macmillan Reader in Palliative Medicine, St Georges,
University of London
Judge Philip Sycamore, Department of Law, Lancaster University
Aswini Weererante, Barrister, Doughty Street Chambers
Michael Wenham, author of My Donkey Body
Dr Paul Whelan, Consultant in Psychiatry of Old Age, North Westminster
Community Mental Health Team
Dr Andrew Wilcock, Clinical Reader, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences,
University of Nottingham
The Most Revd and Rt Hon Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury
Organizations
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
Age UK
Alert
Alzheimer’s UK
Association for Palliative Medicine
Association of British Neurologists
Association of Directors of Adult Social Services
Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains
BMA Ethics Committee
British Institute of Human Rights
British Medical Association
British Psychological Society
Care Not Killing Alliance (representing over 40 organisations)
Carers UK
Disability Alliance
Disability Awareness in Action
Dying Matters Coalition
Equalities and Human Rights Commission
Huntingdon Disease Association
Living and Dying Well
Macmillan Cancer Support
Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute
Marie Curie Cancer Care
Mind
Motor Neurone Disease Association
Multiple Sclerosis Trust
Muslim Council of Great Britain
National Council for Palliative Care
National Pensioner’s Convention
Parkinson’s Disease Society
Patients Association
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Association
Royal College of Anaesthetists
Royal College of Nursing
Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Royal Society of Medicine
Sue Ryder Care
The Stroke Association
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