Commons MPs will debate and vote proposals to allow assisted dying for terminally ill people in England and Wales, having last had the chance in 2015.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater has put forward a private members bill that sets out a ‘practical model’ for a change in the law.
It follows a Health and Social Care Select committee inquiry looking into the current law, international examples of where assisted dying either after a diagnosis of terminal illness or for intolerable suffering had been made legal as well as involvement of physicians and assessments of eligibility and capacity to give informed consent.
A lengthy report from the inquiry published in February as a ‘resource to inform future debate’ on the topic noted that the UK Government must consider the implications of laws to allow assisted dying being passed in Scotland Jersey and the Isle of Man in the next few years.
The Choice at the End of Life Bill is expected to be formally introduced on 16 October with the first debate likely to follow later this year.
It will build on best practice from assisted dying laws overseas, insights select committee report and previous proposals, ‘to set out a practical model for law change that reflects the widespread and enduring public support’.
An Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill was introduced to the House of Lords in July.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has promised to allow a Private Members’ Bill on assisted dying to be debated and that Labour MPs would have a free vote on the issue.
Health secretary Wes Streeting has previously said he is conflicted on the issue of assisted dying because while he could ‘buy into the principle’ he was concerned about the quality palliative care services – an issue that was looked at by the select committee inquiry.
‘I am not sure as a country we have the right end-of-life care available to enable a real choice on assisted dying,’ he said at an event in September.
Writing in The Guardian, Ms Leadbeater who is the MP for Spen Valley said: ‘I believe we should have the right to see out our days surrounded by those we love and care for, knowing that when we are gone they can remember us as we would like to be remembered.
I also believe that if we were able to spare them any unnecessary trauma and uncertainty, we would want to do that too.’
In 2015, MPs overwhelmingly voted down a proposal to allow assisted dying but since then the stance of many has changed.
The BMA moved from opposition to a neutral stance in 2021, however the RCGP remains opposed.
Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said: ‘This is a historic opportunity to bring about real change for dying people; one that commands vast public support and one that MPs must grip urgently.
‘Safety is woven into the fabric of proposals for law change, introducing practical measures to assess eligibility, ensure rigorous medical oversight, and robustly monitor every part of the process.’
Dr Gordon Macdonald, the chief executive of Care Not Killing, which is opposed to a change in the law, said he was disappointed that a bill would be introduced.
‘I would strongly urge the government to focus on fixing our broken palliative care system that sees up to one in four Brits who would benefit from this type of care being unable to access it, rather than discussing again this dangerous and ideological policy.’
A version of this story was first published on our sister title Pulse.
