Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) made an unusual criticism of domestic policy overseas in a “point of personal privilege” during a press conference, saying U.K. lawmakers voting to legalize assisted dying made last Friday “a sad and shameful day for the English-speaking world.”
“It’s an ancient truth that medicine should always heal and never harm, but the U.K. just joined Canada in twisting that definition of medicine and codifying the Orwellian language of assisted death into law,” Johnson said at the Wednesday press conference.
The U.K. physician-assisted suicide bill — which passed the House of Commons but is not yet law, according to BBC — would allow those 18 and older who are expected to die within six months to get assistance from a doctor in dying. It would require approval from two doctors, that the patient be deemed to have the mental capacity to make the choice, and approval from a judge to get assistance from a doctor in dying.
“Any society that rejects that truth about life as a gift from our creator and adopts a culture of death as a society that is in the process of crumbling,” Johnson said. “So-called assisted death endangers the weak and marginalized in society, and it corrupts medicine, and it erodes our obligations to family. And I hope and pray that the people of the United Kingdom will work through democratic means and reverse that legislation.”
Euthanasia, or medical aid in dying, is also legal in various forms in the United States.
According to the nonprofit Compassion & Choices, which advocates for medical aid in dying, the medical assistance in dying is available in 10 states and in the District of Columbia.
The Speaker did not commit to or rule out federal action on the issue.
“I suspect we’ll have conversations about that,” Johnson said, but added “we don’t have any legislation planned at the moment.”
“But it’s going to have to be part of the dialog going forward, because as that trend continues, I think we need to stand out for the respect for life,” Johnson said.
