MPs Introduce New Restrictions on Assisted Dying Debate in Parliament

Strategic Insights -

Health professionals would not be allowed to raise the subject of assisted dying with child patients, and advertising for such a service would be banned, under new proposals introduced in Parliament. The amendments were voted in on Friday as part of the ongoing debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. The Bill aims to provide a framework for assisted dying, but the new restrictions have been hailed as a significant development by opponents of the legislation.

Key Takeaways:

  • A new clause has been introduced to ensure medics cannot raise the topic of assisted dying with under-18s, with a majority of MPs voting in favor of the amendment.
  • Labour MP Dame Meg Hillier's amendment to prevent health workers from bringing up the issue with adult patients before they have raised it was voted down.
  • A ban on advertising assisted dying has been approved, with an amendment tabled by Labour MP Paul Waugh to limit exceptions on the ban failing to pass.
  • Other amendments have been passed, including a provision that assisted dying deaths do not automatically have to be referred to a coroner.
  • The regulation of substances for use in assisted dying is also set to be introduced.

Statistics:

  • Over 90 hours of parliamentary time have been spent debating the Bill so far.
  • More than 500 amendments have been considered at committee stage earlier this year.
  • The new restrictions on assisted dying debate have been described as a "first major Commons defeat" by opposition campaigners Care Not Killing.

Sources:

  • [House of Commons debates on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill]
  • [Care Not Killing press release on the amendments]
  • [BBC News report on the latest developments in the Bill]
  • [The Guardian report on the amendments passed on Friday]