New bill to propose assisted dying rights for terminally ill in England and Wales

A proposal to grant terminally ill individuals in England and Wales the legal right to end their lives is set to be introduced in Parliament this month. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater is spearheading the bill, calling it the right time to reopen the debate on assisted dying after a similar bill was rejected by MPs in 2015.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has expressed his support for a change in the law and has committed to allowing Labour MPs to vote according to their conscience. He has also previously advocated for assisted dying reform, stating last year that he believes there are valid reasons for altering the current law. The government, however, will remain neutral on the issue, with MPs being granted a free vote.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, a crossbench peer and former paralympian, has voiced her opposition to the proposed changes.

Leadbeater’s bill is expected to offer terminally ill adults, who are near the end of their lives, the right to seek medical assistance to shorten their deaths. While the specifics of the bill are still being finalized, it is likely to follow the framework of a similar proposal in the House of Lords, which would allow adults with less than six months to live the option to receive medical help to end their lives.

The bill is scheduled to be formally introduced on October 16th, with a parliamentary debate and vote expected later in the year. It would need the approval of both MPs and the House of Lords before becoming law.

Other regions, including Scotland, Jersey, and the Isle of Man, are also considering legal changes to assisted dying laws. The issue has gained attention in recent months following broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen’s revelation that she had joined Dignitas, a Swiss clinic known for offering assisted dying services, after being diagnosed with lung cancer.