Public statements or press releases from the Archbishop of Canterbury's office.

Kim Leadbeater Introduces Assisted Dying Bill; Archbishop Calls It 'Dangerous'

Oct 16, 2024, 07:28 AM

A bill to legalize assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales has been formally introduced in the House of Commons by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater as a private member's bill. The Assisted Dying Bill proposes that terminally ill patients, with less than six months to live, can choose to end their lives with medical assistance, under strict safeguards. Mandatory approval from two doctors and a High Court judge, along with a cooling-off period, would be required. The bill is backed by Dame Esther Rantzen, who urges MPs to listen to public opinion, with a YouGov poll indicating 67% support for assisted dying. The issue will be voted on in late November, marking the first Commons vote on the matter in almost a decade. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has called the bill 'dangerous' and warned of a 'slippery slope', suggesting it could lead to vulnerable people feeling compelled to end their lives. Disability campaigners have also raised concerns about potential risks to vulnerable individuals. Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch expressed support in principle but voiced distrust in the system's ability to deliver it properly.