New Assisted Dying Proposal Sparks Debate in UK Parliament

While the full details of the bill have yet to be published, The Times reported that, if passed, it would require approval from a judge and two doctors for a patient’s request to die, with the provision limited to those with six to 12 months to live. This marks a significant shift in the UK’s legal stance on assisted suicide, which is currently banned in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

Supporters and opponents of the bill were expected to gather outside Parliament, recalling the last time an assisted dying bill was debated in 2015, which resulted in defeat. In Scotland, which operates under a separate legal system, assisted suicide is not explicitly a criminal offense but can still lead to charges, such as murder. A similar bill to legalize assisted dying in Scotland was introduced earlier this year.

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Leadbeater stated that her bill reflects a growing shift in public opinion, pointing to similar laws in several European countries. “People deserve a choice and they’ve not got that,” she said, emphasizing that the bill will include “safeguards and protections” to ensure responsible implementation. The debate has gained momentum thanks to the campaign led by former BBC presenter Esther Rantzen, who has terminal cancer.

Opponents of the legislation include disability rights groups and senior religious figures. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the UK’s highest-ranking Roman Catholic cleric, and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby have both voiced strong objections. Welby, who will have a vote as a “lord spiritual” in the House of Lords, warned that the proposal could lead to a “dangerous… slippery slope,” potentially extending assisted dying to individuals who are not terminally ill.

Alistair Thompson from the anti-euthanasia group Care Not Killing expressed concern that changing the law could pressure vulnerable individuals into ending their lives prematurely, drawing parallels to Belgium and the Netherlands, where assisted dying has been extended to minors.

The bill is scheduled for debate and a vote in the Commons on November 29. As a private member’s bill, its outcome remains uncertain, with no guarantee of government support. Meanwhile, other regions like the Isle of Man and Jersey are also considering similar legislation, aligning with countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal, where euthanasia and assisted suicide are already legal under certain conditions.

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