A new bill in England and Wales may let terminally ill adults, who are expected to die within six months, ask for help to end their lives. This proposed law will be discussed by Members of Parliament (MPs) later this month.
Under the bill, two independent doctors must confirm that a person is eligible and has made the decision on their own. A High Court judge would also need to approve the request. Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the bill, said the goal is to “shorten death rather than end life,” with strict safety measures included.
However, some critics worry that people might feel pressured to choose assisted dying. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will be debated on November 29. This is the first Commons vote on assisted dying since a similar proposal was rejected in 2015.
To qualify for assisted dying, applicants must be over 18, live in England or Wales, and have been registered with a doctor for at least a year. They must also have the mental capacity to make this choice and express a clear, informed wish without any pressure.
There will be a seven-day gap between evaluations by two doctors, followed by a 14-day waiting period after a judge’s ruling.
The bill states that no one is allowed to actively end a life. The person must self-administer the substance to assist in dying. It will also be illegal to pressure someone to request assisted dying, with penalties of up to 14 years in prison.
The government is neutral on the bill, allowing Labour MPs to vote as they choose. If the bill passes, it will be reviewed again before needing final approval from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
