Domestic violence victims must be included in the assisted dying debate, campaigners say | Assisted dying

Charitable institutions have warned that there is a “great danger” that warns of the victims of forced control of pressure to end their lives using death legislation with help.

The Women’s Justice Center (CWJ) and standing together against household abuse were among the expert organizations that presented the factors of submission earlier this month to the committee studying the draft death law with help, warning that the plans in its current form may endanger the victims of forced control.

The groups said that the discussion of the proposals has so far failed to consider home abuse or the risk that the perpetrators can force victims or pressure on death with help.

Kim Ledbter, MP, Who submitted the bill, which covers England and WalesShe said that she welcomed the contributions of these groups and was “completely committed to guaranteeing the correct protection in the draft law.”

“Evidence indicates that forced control leads to the loss of victims often on their self -esteem and self -esteem, and is closely related to both home killing and suicide related to home abuse.

“We know that some perpetrators of forced behavior and control pushing their victims to commit suicide, either because the victim cannot see a way to get out of ill -treatment, or because the perpetrator tells the victim that she has no value and must kill herself.

“There will be some cases where the perpetrators of home abuse, especially forced behavior and control, will press victims to seek to end their lives. There is a great danger, through this dynamic, coercion will play a role in some deaths with help.”

Over said that CWJ was concerned that some doctors and psychiatrists did not have skills or training to determine forced control and said that there was a need for the participation of psychologists or other professionals with specialized knowledge.

Forced control is a form of household abuse that women aid as action, or a pattern of actions, assaults, threats, insult and intimidation or any other abuse is not used in damage or punishing or intimidating the victim. It has become a specific criminal crime in England and Wales in 2015, but experts say it may be difficult for non -specialists to recognize.

In recent years, activists have called for the aggressors’ condemnation of wrongful killing in cases where their victims have continued to take their lives. In 2024, Ryan Wildzal was accused of wrongful killing after his partner, Kina Doss, wrote[he] He killed me “in a note that was found after her suicide. Welling was Condemn From the dominant assault and behavior in January, but it was cleared of unintentional murder. and 2023 Investigation Kelly Soton’s suicide in 2017 was “illegal killing”, following the condemnation of her partner with forced behavior and control.

Professor Jin Moncton Smith, a leader in local murder, said that she “has great concerns about the subsidized draft death law and that he needs” a major study, a reference to forced behavior, control and home abuse, and its potential impact on the victim’s decision -preparation. “

Monckton-Smth has warned that the perpetrators who kill their victims “sometimes do” their suicide bombers. She said, “It could be the help of death committed suicide, or it may be a suicide separately,” she said. “They are both very possible in home abuse.”

She added: “Any professionals, medical, legal, or otherwise must evaluate a person who has a request for death to have a specialized training in forced control and abuse of homes … and there must In the life of this victim.

Cherlyl Henry-Leach, CEO of standing together against home abuse, said, said Cherlyl Henry-Leach, CEO to stand together against home abuse, said, observer Its organization was concerned that legislation could “be abused as a female tool.”

Henry-Leich said: “Home abuse often escalates when the victim becomes sick, handicapped or weak, and the aggressors take advantage of this dependence on manipulation and control of their victims. At risk of coercion to end their lives. “

Henry-Leich said that the draft law should include a clearer definition of coercion, the training of home abuse, and the examination of specialized household abuse as part of the evaluation process.

She said: “We must ensure that dignity in death is supported by carrying out guarantees in this draft law to prevent any possible misuse as a tool for forced control, exploitation or damage.”

Kim Lidepter said: “I take seriously the ideas of organizations that work with the victims of home abuse and welcome their contributions in this important debate.

“In light of the current situation, people with end diseases, including women, take things in their hands; take their private lives at home or travel abroad. At the present time, we cannot know whether these people have made a completely voluntary and free voluntary decision From coercion and full knowledge of all open options for them.

“External evidence indicates that the guarantees provided to discover and prevent potential coercion, such as this is included in the draft law. I listened to the experts and got the best practices to propose amendments Which includes an explicit role for social workers in this process and a condition for evaluating doctors to receive detailed training in the discovery of coercion and pressure.

“I am still completely committed to ensuring that the correct protection is in the draft law, and it is still on an interview with stakeholders’ groups to discuss their ideas. The draft law will provide the legal clarity that affects the need and protection loaded with the front, and provides a meaningful and based decisions, as well as the true choice of injured persons With good diseases and want them to die. “