Bill to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill ‘is safest choice’, argues MP

A bill to legalise assisted dying for some terminally ill adults is the “safest choice” and the “strictest” in the world, the MP behind the new law has claimed as it is set to be published.

Mentally competent adults with a life expectancy of six months or less who have a settled wish to die that has been approved by two doctors and the High Court would be able to do so under the proposed legislation for England and Wales.

Ahead of its publication on Tuesday, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater insisted her private member’s bill would make it illegal for someone to persuade a person through dishonesty, coercion or pressure to declare they wanted to end their life or to induce someone to self-administer drugs to die. Anyone found guilty of doing so would face a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.

Critics argue the controversial Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which is likely to run to more than 40 pages, is being “rushed with indecent haste” and that MPs will not have adequate time to scrutinise it before the 29 November debate.

The legislation says two independent doctors must be satisfied that the person is eligible, but no doctors will be obliged to take part in the process.

Terminally ill people who have been resident in England and Wales for at least 12 months would have to take the prescribed medication themselves.

Health secretary Wes Streeting has already said he intends to vote against the bill, voicing his fears about coercion and people feeling a "duty to die".

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Source: The Independent, 12 November 2024