"To follow on from that, as my noble friend said right at the beginning, the amendment was put down in such a blunt fashion absolutely to stimulate this sort of debate. What has been really useful in this debate is finding that there is a broad degree of consensus that …..." Lord Markham - View Speech
"I too thank the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, for bringing this serious issue in front of us today. Like others, I wish we had more time, but I think this shows the Lords at its best. We have had technology know-how, regulatory expertise, philosophy, religious wisdom—we have even learned that …..." Lord Markham - View Speech
"Given that I did not write any of the manifestos, I am not sure I can say. If I was writing them, it is something that I would probably put in. It is something that everyone agrees is one of personal choice, like many other issues, and of course that …..." Lord Markham - View Speech
"Yes, absolutely. That is what these debates are all about: trying to find an approach that makes assisted dying tight and safe, safeguarding all sorts of vulnerable groups, but also navigable. I know that is what the sponsors of the Bill are trying to do and what the noble Lords …..." Lord Markham - View Speech
"I believe I am answering the question. Once I have finished answering, the noble Lord can intervene on me and say what he would like to say. If he is willing to wait a few moments, that would be the appropriate point.
"In the spirit of helpfulness on public opinion and whether people understand the question, there are numerous surveys on this. A very clear one has the wording “Do you think doctors should be allowed to end the life of a terminally ill patient at their request?”, which was supported by …..." Lord Markham - View Speech
"As I said, these are not people who want to die; they are people who absolutely want to live. The only reason they are entering into this process, and the only reason they would be eligible—..." Lord Markham - View Speech
"The noble Baroness is talking about a slightly different circumstance where there are prior reasons, which could be mental health or other reasons, and why that could be a cause. What we are talking about here is basically the criterion on which you can first be assessed for assisted …..." Lord Markham - View Speech
"The main point here is that, by definition, you are eligible for assisted death only if you have been diagnosed to be within six months of the end of your life through a terminal illness. That is the reason that you are applying for an assisted death. That is motivation …..." Lord Markham - View Speech
"I was making the point that those people—I am looking at some in that category in this very Room, I believe—want to live for the rest of their natural life for as long as possible. That is what they really want. They desperately do not want to be diagnosed with …..." Lord Markham - View Speech