Assisted Dying Bill Faces Further Debate Amid Stronger Support and Concerns

Strategic Insights -

A cross-party group of MPs, including doctors Neil Shastri-Hurst, Simon Opher, and Peter Prinsley, have appealed to their colleagues in Parliament to support the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales to apply for an assisted death. The appeal comes after the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) expressed "serious concerns" and cannot support the proposed legislation in its current form. Despite the opposition, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has signalled that his views on assisted dying have not changed, and he remains supportive of the Bill.

The Bill, which has stronger protections and solid cross-party support, would provide terminally ill adults with fewer than six months to live with the option to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a three-member expert panel. Reports of MPs who voted in favour of the Bill last year but are now considering voting against it have been dismissed by the Bill's backers. The five-hour sitting in the Commons on Friday is expected to see dozens of amendments debated and voted on.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has warned of a shortage of consultant psychiatrists to meet the demands of the Bill, citing "unanswered questions" about the safeguarding of people with mental illness. However, the cross-party group of MPs has urged their colleagues to support the Bill, highlighting the need to change the current law that "criminalises compassion and forces dying people into situations no civilised healthcare system should accept".

Key Takeaways:

  • The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which allows terminally ill adults in England and Wales to apply for an assisted death, returns to the House of Commons on Friday for further debate.
  • A cross-party group of MPs, including doctors Neil Shastri-Hurst, Simon Opher, and Peter Prinsley, have appealed to their colleagues to support the Bill, citing its stronger protections and solid cross-party support.
  • The Royal College of Psychiatrists has expressed "serious concerns" and cannot support the proposed legislation in its current form, citing "unanswered questions" about the safeguarding of people with mental illness.
  • Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has signalled that his views on assisted dying have not changed, and he remains supportive of the Bill.
  • The five-hour sitting in the Commons on Friday is expected to see dozens of amendments debated and voted on.
  • The Bill would allow terminally ill adults with fewer than six months to live to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a three-member expert panel.

Statistics:

  • A majority of MPs supported the assisted dying Bill in a historic vote in November.
  • Dozens of amendments have been tabled for the five-hour sitting in the Commons on Friday.
  • The Bill would require a psychiatrist to sit on a three-member panel alongside a social worker and senior legal figure to assess a terminally ill person's application.
  • The Royal College of Psychiatrists has warned of a shortage of consultant psychiatrists to meet the demands of the Bill.

Sources:

  • "Assisted dying: No longer for me to decide" by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (February 28, 2023)
  • "Assisted dying Bill: MPs urged to support it" by PA Media (February 28, 2023)
  • "Assisted dying Bill: Government will not pull the plug" by The Independent (February 27, 2023)