MALVERN'S MP will vote against an assisted dying bill after she almost lost her father but got 20 more cherished years with him. 

Harriett Baldwin has decided not to support legalising assisted dying for some terminally ill people in England and Wales ahead of Friday's crucial vote. 

If passed, adults who are terminally ill will be able to request and be provided with assistance to end their own life. 

She said she is voting because of her experiences with her father who was effectively dead at points in hospital but was kept alive by doctors and went on to live another 20 years. 

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She said instead of the bill, she would like to see much more effort in ensuring that end-of-life care is significantly improved. 

She added she has been meeting with hospices to hear their views on how end-of-life care is improved. 

She told the Gazette: “Assisted dying is a matter upon which it is possible for people to have strongly held opposing opinions and hundreds of my constituents have contacted me to share their views.

“Every MP approaches this as a matter of conscience, and their views will be influenced by their own experience. 

"In my case, 20 additional years of my father's life after doctors believed he had technically died.

“There are many policy reasons I can't support Friday's Bill. It imposes a legal requirement on doctors who do not want to promote their patients' suicides to refer people to someone who will. 

"It will impose additional work on our NHS and judiciary which both have waiting lists.

“It creates societal pressure and could create private sector businesses that could be set up to advertise their suicide services.

“I am strongly opposed to this Bill but I support the right of Members of Parliament to debate this issue and have a free vote on this matter of conscience.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the government would remain neutral on the passage of the bill and on the matter of assisted dying, meaning MPs have been freed to vote with their conscience. 

Dame Harriett also voted against assisted dying in 2015. 

Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of the campaign group Dignity in Dying, said: "The ban on assisted dying is forcing terminally ill people to suffer despite the best care, spend their life savings travelling to Switzerland, or take matters into their own hands at home, with relatives often left traumatised."