Proposed Assisted Dying Bill For England And Wales Rekindles Debate Over Choice And Ethics

Details of a proposed law to legalize assisted dying in England and Wales have been published, rekindling debate on controversial topic ahe of a vote in Parliament later this month.

draft bill, published Monday, proposes allowing terminally ill ults expected to have less than six months to live to ask for and be provided with help to end ir own life, subject to safeguards and protections.

Opponents have voiced concerns that bill would mean people could become pressured to end ir lives.

But Labour lawmaker Kim Lebeater, who proposed bill , said law has robust safeguards built into it and contains “three layers of scrutiny" — two doctors and a High Court judge will have to sign off on any decision.

A debate and first vote on bill is expected to take place on v. 29.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday he will study details of bill and “will t be putting pressure on any MP (Member of Parliament) to vote one way or or.”

Here's a look at what's in Terminally Ill ults (End of Life) Bill and next steps:

Under draft legislation, only those over 18-years-old in England and Wales and who are expected to die within six months can request assisted dying.

y must have mental capacity to make a choice about end of ir life and will be required to make two separate declarations about ir wish to die. Two independent doctors have to be satisfied person is eligible and a High Court judge will need to approve decision.

Anyone found guilty of pressuring, coercing or dishonestly getting someone to make a declaration that y wish to die will face up to 14 years in prison.

Assisted suicide is currently banned in most parts of U.K. It is t a specific criminal offense in Scotland, but assisting death of someone can result in a criminal charge.

patient must self-minister life-ending medication mselves. doctor or anyone else can give medication.

health professional is under any obligation to provide assistance to patient.

Doctors who do take part would have to be satisfied person making ir declaration to die has me it voluntarily. y also must ensure person is making an informed choice.

bill will be debated in Parliament and lawmakers will be able to vote on it according to ir conscience, rar than along party lines.

Opinion among lawmakers appears to be divided, though some senior ministers including Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said he intended to vote against bill. Starmer has previously supported assisted dying, but government says it will remain neutral on issue.

If bill passes first st in House of Commons, it will face furr scrutiny and votes in both Houses of Parliament. Lebeater suggested that any new law is unlikely to come into effect within next two to three years.

One argument supporting bill is that wealthy individuals can travel to Switzerland, which allows foreigners to go re to legally end ir lives, while ors have to face possible prosecution for helping ir loves ones to die.

Or countries that have legalized assisted suicide include Australia, Belgium, Cana and parts of United States, with regulations on who is eligible varying by jurisdiction.

Assisted suicide is different to euthanasia, allowed in Nerlands and Cana , which involves healthcare practitioners killing patients with a lethal injection at ir request and in specific circumstances.