What The Assisted Dying Bill Could Mean For Patients In England And Wales

A small demonstration by people advocating assisted dying hold a protest outside the Hoses of Parliament as a bill to legalise assisted dying is to be put before lawmakers in London, England, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. A private member’s bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales will be voted on in the House of Commons today.The proposed legislation could allow terminally ill people aged over 18 to end their lives when they choose to, rather than suffer through a prolonged illness.However, those opposed to the bill fear it could mean patients feel pressured to die.Here’s what you need to know.What is the current law on assisted dying?Assisted dying is not legal in the UK right now.The Commons last voted on the issue back in 2015, when MPs rejected plans to allow terminally ill adults to end their lives with medical supervision.Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who is spearheading the new bill, said the current laws in the UK are “not fit for purpose” and “leading to people having horrible deaths, taking their own lives [and] having to go to other countries [to die] if they can afford it”. A separate bill to legalise assisting dying has been proposed in Scotland.What is in the bill?The bill allows terminally ill adults – who have less than six months to live – to legally end their own lives.The individual would have to be over the age of 18, a resident in England or Wales, registered with a GP for at least 12 months, have the mental capacity to make a clear choice about ending their life, and express a “clear, settled and informed” wish to die throughout the process – without any coercion.The patient would have to self-administer the end of life substance too, as a doctor could only prepare it or help the individual ingest.Leadbeater claims the bill offers the “strictest safeguards anywhere in the world”, as two independent doctors and a High Court judge would have to confirm the individual in question is eligible for assisted dying.There would need to be at least a week between each doctor’s decision, and both medical professionals would have to be sure the individual had not been pressured or coerced into choosing assisted dying.The patient would have to wait a fortnight after the judge’s ruling until they could be assisted to die, unless their death is imminent.If someone is found guilty of pressuring someone to take part in assisted dying, they could face 14 years behind bars.'This Bill is about the rights of people who are dying'Labour MP Kim Leadbeater told #BBCBreakfast her Bill to introduce Assisted Dying in England and Wales will not be a 'slippery slope' to make it easier to end one's life https://t.co/dMGd3WdGRepic.twitter.com/0yvKc9mW5L— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) November 12, 2024What happens next?There will be an unwhipped, free vote – meaning MPs can choose the option they prefer, without repercussions from their parties – in the Commons today.At the second reading, the bill passed with a majority of 55 votes, and Leadbeater is confident that it will make it through this final round.If it passes, it will head over to the House of Lords for further line-by-line scrutiny.A final version, if approved by both the Commons and the Lords, would then become law.What are the major concerns about the bill?Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has said she is concerned that this legislation could expand and impact people with disabilities.Tory MP Danny Kruger wrote on X: “Anyone who can find two doctors to confirm they’re within six months of death – and a judge to confirm they’re making their own decision – can qualify.”Health secretary Wes Streeting previously said he will be voting against the bill out of fears it could lead to coercion, while justice secretary Shabana Mahmood said she is opposed to it on religious grounds.Related...'Tortured By Being Kept Alive Against Our Will': Assisted Dying Campaigners Issue Final Plea To MPsHow Are MPs Planning To Vote On The Assisted Dying Bill?We Learned My Dad Was Dying — And We Chose Not To Tell Him. Did We Make The Wrong Decision?What It's Like When A Family Member Chooses Assisted Death

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