On the 29th November 2024 this Bill had its second reading in the commons. The criteria were for “adults aged over 18, who have mental capacity and are terminally ill in the final 6 months of their life, to request assistance from a doctor to end their life”. 330 MPs voted for and 275 voted against this bill. 50 MPs abstained. The bill is now at the committee stage, for the purpose of detailed scrutiny. 23 MPs were selected by Kim Leadbeater MP (who presented the bill) to sit on the committee. Of the selected 23 MPs, 13 MPs were for and 10 MPs were against assisted dying. The experts called to give evidence to the committee were in the majority for the bill. No disability group was invited nor the British Geriatric society. Safeguards have already been eroded at the committee stage. High court judges have now been removed from the assisted dying panel (who decide yes or no to an assisted dying request). Psychiatrists, who were only called to give evidence after a protest, have now stated that they do not have the resources to assess mental capacity of those who request assisted dying. Similarly social workers have declared that they do not have the resources to take part. The criteria to request assisted dying has also been extended to include those with a neurodegenerative illness with a prognosis of one year and those with a terminal mental illness. This would allow people suffering with anorexia to request an assisted death. In every country/state where an assisted dying law has been passed, the criteria have widened and the safeguarding has been watered down with time. We need to protect the vulnerable in our society. Every human life has value and meaning.

Only 28 MPs need to change their vote from pro to against assisted dying at the next commons vote, which is set for April/May 2025. Please contact your MP by email, letter or make an appointment (more impactful) to voice your objections.

For full details of the Bill, visit https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3774