15.05.13
Assisted dying legislation to be tabled today
Lord Falconer will table a private members’ bill to legalise assisted dying in “strictly defined circumstance” today.
The Labour peer proposes that patients aged over 18 who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness should be allowed to request help from a clinician to end their life.
Patients would have to prove they are mentally capable to make a voluntary and informed choice and are not unduly informed by others. Their condition would be independently assessed by two doctors, as well as other healthcare professionals.
Proposed safeguards would include guarantees about the storage and transportation of lethal medication, reporting of assisted deaths and powers for cases of non-compliance to be investigated.
The Bill is supported by groups including Dignity in Dying, but the BMA has rejected calls to soften its opposition to assisted dying and bishops in the House of Lords would strongly oppose a change in the law.
The Government has said the issue is a matter of conscience for each MP. Calls for legislation were rejected in 2006 and 2009.
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