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Labour's Kim Leadbeater Publishes Assisted Dying Bill with Strict Safeguards, Including 14-Year Jail for Coercion

Nov 11, 2024, 10:45 PM

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater has published a proposed Assisted Dying Bill in the UK Parliament, which would legalize assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live. The bill includes what supporters call the 'strictest safeguards' in the world, requiring approval from two independent doctors and a High Court judge, with the entire process potentially taking as little as three weeks. Patients must have the mental capacity to make an informed, voluntary choice, be registered with a GP in England or Wales for at least 12 months, and be able to self-administer the fatal drugs. The bill imposes severe penalties, including up to 14 years in prison for anyone found guilty of pressuring or coercing someone to end their life. The proposal allows doctors to proactively discuss assisted dying with patients. The bill is set to be debated and voted on by MPs on November 29, 2024. The proposal has sparked debate among MPs, with concerns raised about the bill's scrutiny, the adequacy of safeguards such as the seven-day period between medical assessments, and the potential impact on the NHS. Labour leader Keir Starmer has stated he is yet to decide how he will vote, emphasizing the need to 'get the balance right.'