IN JUST over 24 hours time – on Friday, November 29 – MPs across the country will vote on the proposed Assisted Dying Bill.
If it becomes law, it would give some terminally ill people – over the age of 18 – in England and Wales the right to choose when they end their life.
Up until now, anyone who wanted to legally end their life would have to journey to do so to countries where the practice was legal, for example Switzerland.
The legislation going through UK Parliament is officially known as: ‘The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill 2024-25’.
Its long title is: ‘A Bill to allow adults who are terminally ill, subject to safeguards, to be assisted to end their own life; and for connected purposes’.
Since the announcement was made that the bill, brought by Kim Leadbetter MP, would be coming to Parliament, there has been much debate – both in the media and in households up and down the country.
Decisions on ending lives would ‘allow adults who are terminally ill, subject to safeguards and protections, to request and be provided with assistance to end their own life’.
Friday’s sitting will be the bill’s second reading and the government will ‘remain neutral’ on the bill, enabling MPs to have a free vote, according to their own view on whether it should go to the next stage.
As the law stands
While suicide and attempted suicide are not criminal offences, it is an offence (in England and Wales) for a person to intentionally encourage or assist the suicide (or attempted suicide) of another – under the 1961 Suicide Act.
The aims of the bill
The bill is aimed at enabling adults – aged 18 and over – who have mental capacity, are terminally ill and are in the last six months of their life, to ask for a doctor to assist them in ending their life.
The safeguards and process
A substantial amount of criteria must be met by the applicant before they would be allowed to bring an end to their life – they must live in either England or Wales and each request must be assessed by two doctors, at least seven days apart.
The person must also have a ‘clear, settled and informed wish to end their own life’ and had reached the decision voluntarily, without coercion or pressure. If both doctors state, independently of one another, that the eligibility criteria have been met, the person may apply to the High Court for approval of their request.
If the High Court decided the applicant met the requirements of the bill, there would be a 14-day reflection period (this would be shortened to 48 hours if death is imminent).
After this time, the applicant may make a second declaration to request assistance to end their life. If the doctor continues to be satisfied that the person meets the eligibility criteria, a life-ending ‘approved substance’, to be self-administered, would be prescribed.
A person who provides assistance to another in accordance with the bill would not face any criminal (or civil) liability, and the Suicide Act 1961 would be amended accordingly. The section 2 offence would continue to apply to assistance falling outside the framework in the bill.
So where do you stand?
We want to know what your view is on the ‘The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill 2024-25’. Would you vote for, against or are you unsure? Let us know your views by voting below.
Further reading
To read more on The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill 2024-25, click here.
