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MPs to Vote on Kim Leadbeater's Assisted Dying Bill as Archbishops Warn of 'Slippery Slope'

Oct 16, 2024, 06:10 AM

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater is set to introduce a private member's bill to Parliament proposing the legalization of assisted dying for terminally ill patients in England and Wales. The Assisted Dying Bill, which will have its first reading on Wednesday, aims to give individuals with terminal illnesses the right to choose to end their lives under strict safeguards. These include mandatory approval from two doctors and a judge, a cooling-off period, and confirmation of the patient's mental competence. The bill has sparked a renewed debate on the issue, with supporters citing a YouGov poll showing that 67% of Britons support assisted dying and emphasizing the importance of personal choice at the end of life. Opponents, including the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, have called the proposed legislation "dangerous" and warned of a "slippery slope" that could pressure vulnerable individuals into ending their lives. Disability campaigners have also raised concerns about potential risks. Professor Theo Boer, an expert on assisted dying, has warned that legalizing euthanasia can set in motion a new dynamic of supply and demand. There are also concerns highlighted by a case in Canada where a retired military woman seeking home assistance was offered assisted dying instead. MPs are divided on the issue, which will be subject to a vote of conscience when Parliament votes on the bill in November, marking the first significant vote on assisted dying laws in almost a decade.