UK’s assisted dying bill: What does it propose?

The UK’s House of Commons has formally introduced a proposed law to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales.

A parliamentary vote is due to take place on 29 November, with further debates required before the controversial bill can officially become law.

A draft of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was published on Monday (11 November) and proposes making it legal for terminally ill adults expected to have less than six months to live to ask for and be provided with help to end their own life, subject to safeguards and protections.

The subject of assisted death, which is currently under debate in several other European countries, has always been a contentious one.

Some opponents to the UK’s proposed bill have voiced concerns that it could mean people feel pressured to end their lives.

Labour lawmaker Kim Leadbeater, who proposed the bill, said the law has robust safeguards built into it and contains “three layers of scrutiny”, with two doctors and a High Court judge required to sign off on any decision.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday (12 November) that he will study the details of the bill and “will not be putting pressure on any MP (Member of Parliament) to vote one way or the other.”

What is in the proposed assisted dying bill?

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

They must have the “capacity to make a decision to end their own life” and would be required to make two separate declarations, witnessed and signed, about their wish to die.

Two independent doctors will review each case and need to be satisfied the person is eligible, with at least seven days between the doctors’ assessments.

At least one of these doctors must then report to a High Court judge, who can question the terminally ill person or anyone else deemed appropriate to the case and will ultimately need to approve the decision.

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

Assisted suicide is currently banned in most parts of the UK. It is not a specific criminal offence in Scotland, but assisting the death of someone can result in a criminal charge.

How is the medication administered?

While doctors can prepare the life-ending medication, the proposed bill states that the patient must self-administer it.

No health professional is under any obligation to provide assistance to the patient.

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Doctors who do take part would have to be satisfied the person making their declaration to die has made it voluntarily. They also must ensure the person is making an informed choice.

Is the UK’s assisted dying bill likely to be passed?

The bill is due to be debated at the end of the month, with lawmakers able to vote on it according to their conscience, rather than along party lines.

In treading the fragile tightrope between choice and ethics, opinion among lawmakers appears to be divided – though some senior ministers, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, have said they intend to vote against the bill.

Prime Minister Starmer has previously supported assisted dying, but the government says it will remain neutral on the issue.

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

Where else in Europe is assisted dying legal?

Euthanasia – which would be when a medical professional administers a lethal injection – is currently legal in five countries in Europe: Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and more recently Germany and Spain.

The former two countries even recognise requests from minors under strict circumstances.

Austria, Finland and Norway also allow what’s known as passive euthanasia under very strict circumstances, allowing those suffering from incurable diseases to make the decision to stop being administered any more life-prolonging treatments like artificial nutrition or hydration.

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One argument supporting the UK’s proposed bill is that wealthy individuals can travel to Switzerland, which allows foreigners to go there to legally end their lives, while others have to face possible prosecution for helping their loved ones to die.