Assisted dying bill has strict safeguards, MP Kim Leadbeater says

Under new proposed laws for England and Wales, adults with terminal illnesses who are predicted to live for no more than six months would have the option to seek help in ending their lives.

According to a bill released on Monday, two independent medical professionals from outside would need to confirm that a person qualifies and has made their choice freely. Additionally, any requests would require the approval of a judge from the High Court.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who presented the bill, stated that it features "the most stringent protections found anywhere globally."

Nonetheless, those against assisted dying have expressed worries that individuals might feel compelled to choose to end their lives.

Existing legislation in the UK prohibits individuals from seeking assistance to end their lives.

The proposed legislation would mandate that individuals seeking assisted dying must:

Must be at least 18 years old, currently living in England or Wales, and have been registered with a general practitioner (GP) for a minimum of 12 months.

Possess the mental ability to decide to end their life.

Clearly communicate a well-defined, resolute, and knowledgeable desire, ensuring that it is free from any form of influence or pressure throughout every phase of the procedure.

There needs to be a seven-day interval between the assessments from two doctors, followed by an additional 14 days after a judge's decision, before someone can receive assistance in dying. This requirement is not applicable if the person's death is anticipated to be very soon.

People would have the freedom to alter their decisions whenever they wish, and no medical professionals would be required to be involved in the procedure.

The law will continue to prohibit doctors and others from taking someone's life. As long as all the necessary conditions and protections are fulfilled, the person must be the one to administer the substance that leads to their own death.

According to the legislation, a doctor is allowed solely to prepare the substance or help the individual take it.

The suggested law would also criminalize any attempts to pressure or intimidate someone into stating that they wish to take their own life, with a potential penalty of up to 14 years in prison.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that he has no intention of applying any pressure on Labour MPs.

"They will form their own opinions, just like I will," he stated.

Certainly, much will rely on the specifics, and it’s crucial to strike the right balance. However, I’ve consistently maintained that appropriate protections must be established.

On November 29, Members of Parliament will engage in a preliminary discussion and cast their votes regarding the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

This will be the first occasion since 2015 that the House of Commons will cast a vote on assisted dying. At that time, members of Parliament turned down suggestions to permit certain terminally ill individuals to choose to end their lives with medical assistance.

If the bill successfully clears its initial vote, it will undergo additional examination by Members of Parliament and Lords, who may decide to make changes to it.

For the law to be enacted, the final version must be approved by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

The government has adopted an impartial position, permitting Labour MPs to vote freely on the issue. This means they are allowed to make their own decisions without being required to adhere to the party's official stance.

A different proposal aimed at legalizing assisted dying has been put forward in Scotland.

Leadbeater expressed that the existing legislation in the UK is inadequate and is resulting in distressing situations. She highlighted that it contributes to individuals facing tragic endings, resorting to suicide, or seeking assistance in other countries, provided they have the financial means to do so.

Advocates for the legislation, such as broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen, believe that individuals with terminal illnesses should have the option to decide how they wish to pass away in order to prevent needless pain.

Leadbeater informed the BBC that she anticipated MPs would feel more confident about the protections included in the bill. She added, "I want to express to my colleagues that if you choose to vote against this bill, or even just abstain, you’re essentially saying that the current situation is acceptable, and it really isn’t."

Dame Esther, who disclosed last year that she became a member of Dignitas following a terminal cancer diagnosis, praised the new legislation as "fantastic." She mentioned that this reform would prevent many individuals from facing "excruciating deaths."

She expressed that unless her current treatment proves to be "incredibly effective" and adds a few years to her life, "there's no chance that a law for assisted dying will be enacted in time for me."

Elise Burns, a resident of Kent, is facing a terminal diagnosis of breast cancer and wishes to have the choice of assisted dying.

"I'm not afraid of dying itself, but the thought of suffering a painful, prolonged, and horrific death really frightens me," she shared with the BBC.

"I also worry about my loved ones. I don't want them to witness me experiencing that."

Conservative MP Kit Malthouse, one of the sponsors of the bill, shared with the BBC's World Tonight that he believes many of the worries expressed by fellow MPs have been tackled by the bill's protective measures. He described the current situation as a "horror show."

"People were looking for a carefully crafted bill that included strict guidelines and protective measures, particularly those that mandated third-party verification. They especially wanted provisions that provided individuals with time to reflect on their decisions and to document their thought processes."

Nonetheless, Nik Ward, a resident of Surrey who is living with motor neurone disease, opposes amending the law.

In an interview with the BBC, he mentioned that he might have considered seeking assistance to end his life following his diagnosis. However, he has since changed his perspective and now values life deeply, expressing his opposition to the idea of assisted dying.

"It changes the standards of our society, which I believe is quite risky," he stated.

Organizations against legal reforms argue that vulnerable individuals might feel compelled to take their own lives out of concern for being a burden to their families and friends. They believe the emphasis should be placed on enhancing palliative care instead.

Dr. Gordon Macdonald, the CEO of Care Not Killing, stated: "The law we have in place now is the most secure."

"This legislation is being pushed through at an alarming speed, overlooking the serious issues within the UK's flawed and inconsistent palliative care system."

Dr. Gillian Wright, a previous palliative care physician and advocate, expressed to the World Tonight her worries that the legislation includes "arbitrary standards" for identifying terminal illnesses.

"It can be challenging to figure out when someone has just six months left to live," he stated.

It's really just a random standard. Why shouldn't people who have nine or ten months left to live be allowed to choose assisted dying? They might experience even greater suffering.

From the very start, it's clear that the way this legislation is crafted makes it almost certain to face challenges right away, which essentially paves the way for an extension.

Conservative MP Danny Kruger expressed to the BBC his worries that, even with the measures taken to enhance the protections in the bill, judges and doctors might ultimately just approve decisions without much scrutiny.

He mentioned that he shares Leadbeater's view that "the current situation is unacceptable," but emphasized that the priority should be on providing improved palliative care.

"Thanks to advancements in medicine, there's no reason for anyone to suffer from extreme physical pain and die without relief anymore," he stated.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who plans to oppose the bill, has expressed similar worries, stating that the quality of end-of-life care is insufficient to provide individuals with a genuine choice.

In reply, Leadbeater stated: "This discussion isn't solely focused on enhancing palliative care or providing individuals with the choices they rightfully deserve at the end of their lives."

"We need to tackle both tasks simultaneously."

The Member of Parliament for Spen Valley stated that there will be safeguards in place to prevent any form of manipulation or pressure throughout the entire process. Additionally, there will be a set of guidelines and comprehensive training for the physicians participating.

She also mentioned that if the bill is enacted, there will be a "phase for putting it into effect," which will likely take about two years.