29 Aug 2025, 19:26Enoch Kanagaraj BEM, Founder and Chief Executive of One Vision Charity
One Vision Faith & Health Board Contributes to Nuffield Trust’s National Report on Assisted Dying
The Nuffield Trust, a leading health think tank in the UK, has recently published a landmark report on Assisted Dying in Practice: International Experiences and Implications for Health and Social Care. The report explores how countries across the world have approached assisted dying, the systems they had to create, and the challenges of ensuring equity and compassion within health and social care.
I am pleased to share that voices from our One Vision Faith & Health Board were invited to contribute to this important national research, bringing the perspectives of faith communities and community leaders into the discussion.
Pastor Jude Jeanville, a respected Seventh-day Adventist leader and a minister, reflected on the importance of this moment:
“It was a privilege to represent the Adventist faith community in such a sensitive and challenging discussion. The role of One Vision, led by Enoch Kanagaraj BEM, has been instrumental in ensuring our voices are heard at the highest levels. This work shows how faith communities can help shape national debates with compassion, wisdom, and a focus on human dignity.”
Pastor John Melki, representing the Tamil Christian community, echoed these sentiments:
“The issues around assisted dying are complex and deeply personal. I am thankful that through One Vision, faith leaders were able to share our collective experiences and perspectives, highlighting the importance of compassion, equity, and respect for life.”
Pastor Mario Phillips also played a key role, working alongside One Vision to ensure that the Adventist community was actively involved in the dialogue. His contribution demonstrated the Church’s commitment to engaging constructively with wider society on issues that touch the very heart of life and faith.
Importantly, the Faith & Health Board brought together a wide spectrum of leaders. Sikh representative Harjit Singh DL and Muslim community leader Sadia Din also contributed their voices, ensuring that the discussion reflected the diversity of Hertfordshire’s faith communities.
This interfaith collaboration is what makes One Vision’s work so distinctive and impactful. By creating safe spaces for dialogue, the organisation ensures that faith leaders, policymakers, and health professionals can work together for the common good.
The Nuffield Trust’s report highlights that countries introducing assisted dying had to establish new systems including specialist training, oversight bodies, public guidance, and robust data reporting. It also notes the risk of inequalities and barriers in access, especially for vulnerable groups.
Through the One Vision Faith & Health Board, our Church has been able to stand alongside other faiths to reflect on these implications and ensure that policymakers are reminded of the moral, spiritual, and social dimensions of such decisions.
In his own reflection, Enoch Kanagaraj BEM shared:
“Faith plays an essential role in shaping how we understand compassion and dignity in health and social care. I am proud that One Vision has been able to bring diverse voices together, so that these important issues are not just discussed in policy rooms but are informed by the lived experience of communities and the wisdom of faith traditions.”
Dr Sarah Soobir, Deputy Director of Research, Nuffield Trust, said:
“This report reflects our neutral stance on legalising assisted dying and our focus on understanding its implications for health and social care.
We hope this work will be a useful resource for policymakers and representative groups considering this important issue. Thank you again, One Vision team, for contributing to the project.”
As Adventists, we believe in the sanctity of life as a gift from God. Scripture reminds us:
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, NKJV).
The inspired counsel of Ellen G. White also guides us:
“The world needs today what it needed nineteen hundred years ago—a revelation of Christ. A great work of reform is demanded, and it is only through the grace of Christ that the work of restoration, physical, mental, and spiritual, can be accomplished.” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 143).
This contribution reminds us that the Adventist Church, through partnerships like One Vision, is not only present in the community but is also influencing national conversations with a spirit of hope, compassion, and Christlike service.
May God continue to guide our leaders, faith communities, and health professionals as we navigate these sensitive issues with wisdom, compassion, and faith.
Read the report:
The Nuffield Trust, a leading health think tank in the UK, has recently published a landmark report on Assisted Dying in Practice: International Experiences and Implications for Health and Social Care. The report explores how countries across the world have approached assisted dying, the systems they had to create, and the challenges of ensuring equity and compassion within health and social care.
I am pleased to share that voices from our One Vision Faith & Health Board were invited to contribute to this important national research, bringing the perspectives of faith communities and community leaders into the discussion.
Pastor Jude Jeanville, a respected Seventh-day Adventist leader and a minister, reflected on the importance of this moment:
“It was a privilege to represent the Adventist faith community in such a sensitive and challenging discussion. The role of One Vision, led by Enoch Kanagaraj BEM, has been instrumental in ensuring our voices are heard at the highest levels. This work shows how faith communities can help shape national debates with compassion, wisdom, and a focus on human dignity.”
Pastor John Melki, representing the Tamil Christian community, echoed these sentiments:
“The issues around assisted dying are complex and deeply personal. I am thankful that through One Vision, faith leaders were able to share our collective experiences and perspectives, highlighting the importance of compassion, equity, and respect for life.”
Pastor Mario Phillips also played a key role, working alongside One Vision to ensure that the Adventist community was actively involved in the dialogue. His contribution demonstrated the Church’s commitment to engaging constructively with wider society on issues that touch the very heart of life and faith.
Importantly, the Faith & Health Board brought together a wide spectrum of leaders. Sikh representative Harjit Singh DL and Muslim community leader Sadia Din also contributed their voices, ensuring that the discussion reflected the diversity of Hertfordshire’s faith communities.
This interfaith collaboration is what makes One Vision’s work so distinctive and impactful. By creating safe spaces for dialogue, the organisation ensures that faith leaders, policymakers, and health professionals can work together for the common good.
The Nuffield Trust’s report highlights that countries introducing assisted dying had to establish new systems including specialist training, oversight bodies, public guidance, and robust data reporting. It also notes the risk of inequalities and barriers in access, especially for vulnerable groups.
Through the One Vision Faith & Health Board, our Church has been able to stand alongside other faiths to reflect on these implications and ensure that policymakers are reminded of the moral, spiritual, and social dimensions of such decisions.
In his own reflection, Enoch Kanagaraj BEM shared:
“Faith plays an essential role in shaping how we understand compassion and dignity in health and social care. I am proud that One Vision has been able to bring diverse voices together, so that these important issues are not just discussed in policy rooms but are informed by the lived experience of communities and the wisdom of faith traditions.”
Dr Sarah Soobir, Deputy Director of Research, Nuffield Trust, said:
“This report reflects our neutral stance on legalising assisted dying and our focus on understanding its implications for health and social care.
We hope this work will be a useful resource for policymakers and representative groups considering this important issue. Thank you again, One Vision team, for contributing to the project.”
As Adventists, we believe in the sanctity of life as a gift from God. Scripture reminds us:
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, NKJV).
The inspired counsel of Ellen G. White also guides us:
“The world needs today what it needed nineteen hundred years ago—a revelation of Christ. A great work of reform is demanded, and it is only through the grace of Christ that the work of restoration, physical, mental, and spiritual, can be accomplished.” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 143).
This contribution reminds us that the Adventist Church, through partnerships like One Vision, is not only present in the community but is also influencing national conversations with a spirit of hope, compassion, and Christlike service.
May God continue to guide our leaders, faith communities, and health professionals as we navigate these sensitive issues with wisdom, compassion, and faith.
Read the report:
