Disability & Assisted Dying (Part 1): The Institutional Bias Against Disabled People

This episode of the UK Medical Freedom Alliance (UKMFA) podcast continues our series on Assisted Dying. In the light of the resurrection of the Assisted Suicide Bill, which has its 2nd reading and vote in Parliament on 11th September, the panel explore the profound risks this Bill poses to disabled people and individuals with learning disabilities. The guests outline serious concerns around safeguarding, structural inequalities in healthcare, and the lack of platform given to disabled voices in this legislative debate.This is Part 1 of a 3-part conversation with the panel below.Meet the PanelDr Liz Evans - CEO of the UK Medical Freedom Alliance.Amanda Hunter FAIME - The series lead and presenter for the UKMFA Assisted Dying series.George Fielding - A social entrepreneur, systems change leader, and co-founder of Insightful Disability (the UK’s Disability Intelligence Infrastructure Organization). A manual wheelchair user with cerebral palsy, George earned a British Empire Medal at age 19, has mentored over 100 young wheelchair users, and contributed to raising over £15 million for disability causes.Ken Ross - A dedicated advocate who has worked to improve outcomes for people with Down Syndrome since 2004. Ken is the Vice Chair of Portsmouth DSA, a founding officer of the NDSPG, co-author of the Down Syndrome Act 2022, and has produced films such as My Feral Heart and Innocence.Key Topics CoveredThe Resurrected Bill: MP Lauren Edwards new Private Member’s Bill is identical to the previous, flawed, Leadbeater Assisted Dying Bill that fell in the House of Lords in June 2026 when it ran out of time.Legal Misnomers: George Fielding challenges the false narrative given by proponents of Assisted Suicide, that the Bill will not apply to disabled people. He informs us that under the Equality Act, every terminally ill person is legally classified as disabled.Lack of Consultation: The speakers highlight that the Bill is not supported by disabled people or their advocacy organizations, who have also not been consulted to either scrutinise or advise on it.Systemic Bias and Misunderstanding: Ken Ross discusses institutional bias against people with learning and physical disabilities within the health service. He notes that in Scotland, Down’s Syndrome is inaccurately and misleadingly listed as the largest cause of death for people with learning disabilities.Healthcare Inequality: Ken reveals a stark statistic demonstrating the current inequalities in healthcare provision experienced by people with disabilities: 41% of people with disabilities are on NHS waiting lists, compared to just 10% of those without disabilities.Avoidable Deaths: Research cited by the panel suggests a two-tier healthcare provision; that 41% of deaths among people with learning disabilities in England are avoidable, and that individuals with Down Syndrome routinely die 20 years earlier than others with learning disabilities.Dignity in Life vs Death by Assisted Suicide: George emphasizes that many disabled individuals face a lack of basic dignity in daily life, often being institutionalized or hospitalized for easily treatable conditions like constipation or tooth decay due to a lack of proper community care and respite for their families.Support the UKMFALike & Subscribe: If you found this conversation valuable, please like the video and subscribe to the channel to support our work.Donate: You can support the UKMFA by buying us a coffee or setting up a monthly donation. Simply scan the QR code located at the top right of the video, or use the donation link provided below.UK Medical Freedom Alliance freely offers this video and article. However, a donation will help us continue to expose the truth and uphold our medical rights and freedoms.To make a donation please visit: https://donorbox.org/ukmfa_podcast