Assisted dying: what are the laws in UK and what changes are proposed?

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur has introduced a bill in Holyrood to legalize assisted dying in Scotland. This move is being made by supporters to bring about this measure in the UK for the first time.

Assisted Dying Laws: What Are They?

It is against the law to aid or urge someone to commit suicide in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and the most severe punishment is a jail term of up to 14 years. In Scotland, helping someone to end their life could result in being charged with crimes like murder, culpable homicide, or other offenses.

UK's Proposed Plan: What's In It?

McArthur's proposed legislation aims to provide support for terminally ill adults who wish to end their lives. This bill is up for review by the health committee of Holyrood, and may be put forward for a vote by MSPs during the initial phase of this year.

Jersey, a self-governing crown dependency in the UK, will be discussing the legalization of assisted dying for individuals who suffer from a terminal illness or an uncontrollable condition that leads to unbearable pain. The conversation will take place in the states assembly in May. Later, a decision will be made whether to create legislation or not.

A proposal to legalize assisted suicide is currently being reviewed in the parliament of the Isle of Man and will continue to be discussed in April.

Westminster: What's Going On?

In February, a group of Members of Parliament tasked with overseeing health and social care issued a warning about the impending divergence of approaches to a pressing matter that they deemed "difficult, sensitive, and yet crucial". The MPs called on the government based in Westminster to take part in relevant discussions so as to play an active role in resolving the issue.

According to recent reports, Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, has expressed his strong desire to legalize assisted dying if his party wins the upcoming general election. Previously, Downing Street stated that the decision to discuss this issue would be left to the parliament. In 2015, the parliament made a decision not to modify the law in favor of assisted dying after 330 votes were cast against the motion and only 118 in favor.

Is Bill A Sign Of Shifting Public Opinion?

According to McArthur, there is a growing consensus among politicians that reflects the views of the public that has been evident for quite some time. He pointed to a survey by Dignity in Dying Scotland, which found that 78% of those polled were in favor of legalizing the proposed legislation.

Increasing numbers of people are calling for alterations to the current legislation on assisted dying. Notable figures, including Esther Rantzen, have criticized the UK government’s confusing approach to this issue. Meanwhile, everyday individuals like Paola Marra have also spoken out, with Marra tragically choosing to end her life at a Dignitas facility in Switzerland due to her devastating stage 4 bowel cancer diagnosis in 2021. Her story was recently shared with the Guardian.

In the past years, the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Physicians have ceased their resistance to assisted dying and instead adopted impartial attitudes, with more and more physicians endorsing the practice.

This month, a study conducted by Opinium Research and commissioned by Dignity in Dying surveyed over 10,000 UK citizens and revealed that 75% of participants are in favor of legalizing assisted dying for terminally ill adults.

Assisted Dying: What's The Worry?

Several religious organizations, advocates for disability rights, and medical experts are still expressing apprehension about the impact of a new law on individuals who are weak, sick, or nearing death. These individuals are anxious about becoming a financial or emotional strain on their close ones. They describe this new law as "assisted suicide," and they disapprove of the bill being infused with vague expressions.

After the release of McArthur's bill, various healthcare professionals from organizations such as Our Duty of Care, the British Islamic Medical Association, the Better Way campaign, and Disability Equality Scotland, among others, expressed their resistance towards it.

Former palliative care registrar, Dr. Gillian Wright, who is part of the Our Duty of Care movement, has expressed her opposition to the suggested measures. According to Dr. Wright, the most significant risk of assisted suicide is that society may subconsciously reduce the value of people's lives simply because they are unwell, incapacitated, or mentally disoriented or have a perceived minimal contribution to society.

It is heartening to see regular medical professionals from all over Scotland banding together to effectively communicate with MSPs. Although we recognize that end-of-life experiences can be challenging, our response as a community should not be to endorse assisted suicide. Rather, we need to prioritize providing ample resources to ensure everyone has access to top-quality, easily accessible palliative care.