Bishops from Eastern Christian churches, representing over 2.5 million believers in the UK, have issued an open letter urging the House of Lords to reject the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which seeks to legalize assisted suicide for terminally ill adults. The bill is currently undergoing its second reading this week.

Among the signatories are Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain (Ecumenical Patriarchate), Archbishop Silouan of Britain and Ireland (Antiochian Church), Bishop Matthew of Sourozh (Russian Orthodox Church), and Archbishop Athanasius of Britain and Ireland (Romanian Church). The joint statement has also received support from hierarchs of the Coptic, Armenian, Malankara, Ukrainian Greek Catholic, and Assyrian Catholic churches.

The letter emphasizes that the passage of the law would "radically change society's attitude toward human life," shifting the focus from care and alleviation of suffering to "offering ways to end it." The bishops warn that in the context of an overwhelmed NHS, vulnerable patients, particularly the elderly, may face pressure and an unspoken expectation to "die for convenience."

As an example, the authors cite Canada's experience, where, in just nine years, the scope of the law on medical assistance in dying has expanded to include euthanasia for mental health conditions. They also reference data from Oregon (USA), where nearly half of patients in 2024 reported that they chose assisted suicide due to fears of being a burden to their loved ones.

"The right to die quickly becomes an obligation to die," the message states. The bishops emphasized that every human being is created in the image and likeness of God, and the dignity of human life is undeniable. They called on parliamentarians to "reject this tragic and dangerous bill."