ReutersThe MP behind a bid to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales has argued it would help stop people experiencing “very harrowing” deaths, as she unveiled details of her proposals.Under a bill published on Monday, terminally ill adults expected to die within six months could seek help to end their life if two doctors and a High Court judge verify they are eligible and have made their decision voluntarily.Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the bill, said her plan is focused on “shortening death rather than ending life,” and ensures “the strictest safeguards anywhere in the world”.However, opponents have raised concerns that people could feel pressured into ending their lives. MPs will take part in an initial debate and vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on 29 November.Current laws in the UK prevent people from asking for medical help to die.The bill would require those who apply for assisted dying to:Be over the age of 18, a resident in England and Wales and registered with a GP for at least 12 monthsHave the mental capacity to make a choice about ending their lifeExpress a “clear, settled and informed” wish, free from coercion or pressure, at every stage of the processThe legislation will require two independent doctors to determine whether the person satisfies the criteria to take their own life.A judge will also take evidence from at least one doctor, and could also question the terminally ill person before allowing self-administration of the medication.The individual would be allowed to change their mind at any time, and no doctors would be obliged to take part in the process.The law would still forbid doctors or others from ending a person’s life. If all the criteria and safeguards are met, the substance to end someone’s life must be self-administered.Under the bill, a doctor may only prepare the substance or assist the individual to ingest.The proposed legislation would also make it illegal to pressure or coerce someone into declaring they want to end their life, carrying a possible 14-year prison sentence.Leadbeater told the BBC “the status quo is not fit for purpose” and leads to “people having very harrowing, very distressing deaths – both for themselves and for their family”.Her bill could help end this by “addressing these shortcomings in the current system,” she said.Leadbeater called her plans “the strongest most robust piece of legislation on this issue in the world”.”The use of a High Court judge is unique, there’s no other jurisdiction that has that extra legislative layer of protection and safeguarding,” she added.The government has adopted a neutral stance on the proposed law, and Labour MPs will not be instructed which way to vote. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “not going to be putting any pressure whatsoever” on his own MPs, and they would be able to “make their own mind up, as I will be”. “Obviously a lot will depend on the detail and we need to get the balance right, but I’ve always argued there will need to be proper safeguards in place,” he added.This is the first Commons vote on assisted dying since MPs rejected allowing terminally ill adults to end their lives under me …
