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The Role of Religion and Secularism in the Legalisation of Assisted Suicide in Multicultural English Society

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The Role of Religion and Secularism in the Legalisation of Assisted Suicide in Multicultural English Society Title: The role of religion and secularism in the legalisation of assisted suicide in multicultural English society Anita Madan A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Law School – Newcastle University September 2017 i Abstract Religion has been the most important phenomenon that has influenced and even controlled the culture, customs, law, and governmental and judicial activities of multicultural English society and continues to play an important role in this country. This thesis examines the role and degree to which religion – particularly the Church of England and Islam – and secularism have historically impacted, and continue to influence, the assisted suicide debate. The significance of this examination lies in the fact that a decision to seek an assisted suicide is greatly influenced by the ideology that person identifies with. Furthermore, the ideology, whether religious or secular, that the government and judiciary espouse has a significant influence on the law on assisted suicide, and, thus, has a considerable impact on the lives of every citizen that falls under the remit of the law. Therefore, as this thesis argues, it is vital that the beliefs and viewpoints of both religious and secular communities be included in this debate. This thesis establishes that even though the Christian faith, which has always opposed assisted suicide in order to protect the doctrine of sanctity of life, has deep-seated ties with English society; the dominant culture of the country is now secular, which seeks a reform of the law. The thesis concludes that the criminal embargo on assisted suicide is morally and legally is flawed, unreasonable and untenable. Whilst arguing that it should be decriminalised in England on the basis that every individual has the right to self- determination, which allows them to choose the time and manner of their death, under human rights law; this thesis deduces that there is a diminishing inclusion and influence of religious beliefs in the debate on assisted suicide, which is now predominantly guided by secular values such as autonomy and the need to protect vulnerable individuals. ii Dedications I dedicate this to my best friend and husband, Daniel Thomas Matthews, for his love, support and understanding especially in the final years of my study. Thank you for loving me, believing in me, and being proud of me. And to my amazing Grandfather for being a constant source of strength and inspiration. iii Acknowledgments I would like to thank everyone at the Law School and HASS Faculty, who supported me during my time at Newcastle University as a doctoral student, especially my supervisors Dr Elena Katselli and Prof Richard Collier for their insightful comments on earlier drafts of my thesis. I would also like to say a special thank you to my family: my parents, Dr Ashok Madan and Dr Maria Arora, for their love, support and guidance. My brother, Dr Asher Madan, for his constant encouragement and tireless efforts in proof-reading my drafts. And my aunties, Dr Anjela Madan and Anila Madan, and my favourite uncle, Col Anil Madan, for their love and encouragement throughout the years. iv v Table of Contents Abstract……………………………………………………………………………….…...ii Dedication…………………………………………………………………………….…..iii Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………….iv Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………………vi Chapter 1. Overview, Purpose and Research Methodology…………………………..1 1.1 Introduction………………...………………………………………………………….1 1.2 Research questions…………………………………………………………………….7 1.3 Definitions……………………………………………………………………………..8 1.4 Structure of Thesis…………………………………………………………………...13 1.5 Research Methodology………………………………………………………………17 1.5.1 Comparative Law…………………………………………………………..17 1.5.2 Doctrinal Approach………………………………………………………..19 1.5.3 Archival and Historical Research………………………………………….21 1.5.4 Socio-Legal Evaluation…………………………………………………….23 Chapter 2. Christian, Islamic and Secular Perspectives on Suicide and Assisted Suicide…………………………………………………………………………………...25 2.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………..25 2.2 Christian understanding of suicide and assisted suicide……………………………..26 2.2.1 The Catholic Church’s understanding of suicide and assisted suicide……35 2.3 Islamic Tenets on Suicide and Assisted Suicide……………………………………..38 vi 2.4 A Secular Approach to Suicide and Assisted Suicide……………………………….42 2.4.1 The role of secularism in English society………………………………….43 2.5 The secular values that fuel the debate on assisted suicide……………………….…48 2.5.1 Value of Life………………………………………………………………..48 2.5.2 Human Dignity………………………………………………………………….…49 2.5.3 Autonomy………………………………………………………………………..…53 2.6 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………...…58 Chapter 3. The influence of multiculturalism on assisted suicide policy-making in England……………………………………………………………………………….…61 3.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………….….61 3.2 What is multiculturalism?........................................................................................…62 3.2.1 The relationship between multiculturalism and globalisation………………64 3.3 Immigration in 20th Century Britain…………………………………………………66 3.4 Segregation of minority subcultures and its impact on the Islamic Community…….69 3.4.1 The Islamic community in Britain………………………………………………78 3.4.2 Governmental actions accommodating the needs of minority subcultures..80 3.5 The dominant culture of English society………………………………………….…82 3.5.1 The increasingly secular dominant culture of England……………………84 3.6 Conclusion………………..……………………………………………………….…88 Chapter 4. The Influence of Religion on the Historical and Current Momentum for Reforming the Law of Suicide and Assisted Suicide in England…………………….90 4.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………..…90 4.2 Pre-19th Century Law in England……………………………………………………91 4.3 The 1961 Reforms: The Decriminalisation of Suicide in England…………………..94 vii 4.3.1 Medical Causes of Suicides………………………………………………..95 4.3.2 Religious and Ethical Doctrine on Suicide………………………………...97 4.4 Assisted Suicide and Section 2(1) Suicide Act 1961…………………………….…100 4.4.1 Parliamentary Debate on Clause 2(1) of the Suicide Bill……………….…101 4.5 Section 59 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009………………………………..…103 4.5.1 Parliamentary Debates on the Coroners and Justice Bill……………….…105 4.5.2 Religious and Secular Attitudes in the 2009 Debate……………………..…110 4.6 Policy for Prosecutors in Respect of Cases of Encouraging or Assisting Suicide….112 4.7 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….…116 Chapter 5. The impact of human rights law on reforming assisted suicide law in multicultural English society…………………………………………………………119 5.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………119 5.2 The intrinsic link between Article 2 and the doctrine of sanctity of life………...…120 5.2.1 Does Article 2 provide a right to die?....................................................…126 5.3 How the right to self-determination emanates from Article 8…………………...…129 5.3.1 The effect of Pretty and Article 8 as the trump card in domestic and Strasbourg cases……………………………………………………………………………...…135 5.3.2 The continuing expansion of the scope of Article 8…………………..…..…138 5.3.3 The recent application of Strasbourg decisions in English courts……….. 141 5.4 The functioning of Article 9……………………………………………………..…149 5.4.1 The Definition of Belief…………………………………..…………………..…152 5.4.2 Does Article 9 protect a person’s belief in assisted suicide for themselves?......................................................................................................................154 5.5 What amounts to a breach of an individual’s human dignity under Article 3?…….156 5.5.1 The limited role of Article 3 in assisted suicide cases………………………159 viii 5.6 The scope and working of Article 14…………………………………………….…161 5.7 The impact of human rights law on the movement to reform the law on assisted suicide………………………………………………………………………………..…164 5.8 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….…167 Chapter 6. The inclusion of religious and non-religious values in the legislative momentum to reform the law on euthanasia and assisted suicide…………………169 6.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………169 6.2 Historical momentum to reform assisted dying laws…………………………….…171 6.2.1 Voluntary Euthanasia (Legalisation) Bill 1936…………………………..172 6.2.2 Voluntary Euthanasia Bill 1969…………………………………………..174 6.2.3 Religious Objections to the 1969 Bill…………………………………….177 6.2.4 Non-Religious Objections to the 1969 Bill………………………………...…178 6.2.5 The Walton Committee 1993……………………………………………...180 6.3 Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill 2003…………………………………………………185 6.3.1 Religious Opposition to the 2003 Bill……………………………………...…186 6.3.2 Non-Religious, Secular Opposition to the 2003 Bill……………………..…190 6.4 Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill 2004……………………………………195 6.5 Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill 2005……………………………………198 6.5.1 Parliamentary Debates on the 2005 Bill…………………………………..…201 6.5.2 Religious and Non-Religious Objections to the 2005 Bill……………….…206 6.6 The Commission on Assisted Dying…………………………………………….…211 6.6.1 Secular principles considered by the Commission……………………….…215 6.6.2 The Parliamentary debates around the Assisted Dying Bill 2014-2015….217 6.6.3 The influence of religious and non-religious values on the Assisted Dying Bill………………………………………………………………………………………222 6.6.4 Dignity………………………………………………………………………….…222 ix 6.6.5 Compassion………………………………………………………………………224 6.6.6 Autonomy…………………………………………………………………………227 6.6.7 Sanctity of Life………………………………………………………………...…229 6.7 Reaction to Lord Falconer’s Bill……………………………………………………233 6.8 Role of Faith
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