Official statements from major UK medical associations

Assisted Dying Bill Published with Strict Safeguards Including Judge Approval and 14-Year Penalties

Nov 11, 2024, 10:06 PM

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater has published a new Assisted Dying Bill, proposing to legalize assisted dying for terminally ill adults over 18 in England and Wales who have less than six months to live. To qualify, patients must have the mental capacity to make an informed, voluntary choice, be registered with a GP for at least 12 months, and have the ability to self-administer the fatal drugs. The bill includes strict safeguards, requiring approval from two doctors and a High Court judge, and imposes long jail terms of up to 14 years for coercion. However, concerns have been raised about potential added pressures on the 'broken' NHS, the short seven-day period between medical assessments, and that doctors would be permitted to proactively suggest assisted dying to patients. Some MPs and professionals argue the law lacks sufficient details on how coercion would be assessed and emphasize the need to focus on palliative care. The bill, which aims to create the strictest protections against coercion in the world, is set for debate and a vote in Parliament on November 29, with MPs preparing to grapple with their consciences over the proposed legislation.