Kathleen Stock on the Right to Die, Freedom, Death, and Mercy
With Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill apparently doomed to extinction thanks to the co-ordinated efforts of a handful of Peers determined to ensure it cannot complete scrutiny in the House of Lords, the future looks bleak for any form of assisted dying legislation to become law in the UK any time soon.
To discuss the arguments for and against the Leadbeater Bill, Ken and Tim – both supporters of some form of assisted dying legislation – are joined by philosopher and writer Kathleen Stock to discuss her new book Do Not Go Gentle, which is a vivid, fierce and, at times, angry secular polemic against a state-assisted death service, regardless of the circumstances of those who may wish such assistance.
Stock argues that state-sanctioned assisted dying is a “moral disaster” against which we should rage rather than a liberal, progressive development. Resting her thesis on the idea that the “right to die” is a hollow concept that creates more harm than freedom, Kathleen challenges the illusion of autonomy that she says underpins the thinking of those who support assisted dying and warns of the slippery slope that inevitably, she says, expands the criteria from those with a terminal diagnosis to include chronic pain, disability, and those struggling with mental health issues.
In a lively debate, Ken and Tim challenge Kathleen’s description of the campaign for the Leadbeater Bill as a “hobby horse of the comfortable and the rich who have a fear of death and believe they have a right to control when they die”, and argue that the experience of countries which have had assisted dying legislation on the statute book for many years does not support her dystopian view of the UK once state-assisted dying is lawful in some, albeit limited, circumstances.
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Covering the critical intersections of politics and law in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain's legal and political future.
What happens when politics and law collide? How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? And who really holds power in Britain's legal and political system? Get answers to questions like these weekly on Wednesdays.
Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights.
Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law.
Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades. Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape.
If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you'll love Double Jeopardy.
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