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Reporters Sam Francis and Harry Farley are covering the upcoming debate in Parliament regarding a bill to legalize assisted dying in England and Wales. This is the first time the bill will be discussed since significant changes have been made to it. The bill initially passed the first stage in the Commons last November, but multiple amendments have been added since then by both sides. While a vote is not expected to occur on Friday, it is anticipated to take place in June.
The government has quietly made adjustments to its impact assessment on assisted dying, acknowledging errors in the calculation of potential beneficiaries. The upper estimate for the number of assisted deaths in the first year has been revised from 787 to 647. Despite opposition MPs describing the process as chaotic, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, the driver behind the bill, believes it has returned to the Commons in a stronger state. Leadbeater emphasized the urgency for MPs to seize this opportunity for change, stating that the current law is failing both dying individuals and their families.
Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would provide the option for terminally ill adults in England and Wales to make decisions about their end-of-life care, continues to undergo scrutiny and amendments. Several changes have been made to the bill, including removing the requirement for a High Court judge to approve each assisted death request. A panel of experts will now oversee the process instead. MPs have been granted a free vote on the matter, allowing them to vote based on their conscience rather than party lines. The bill remains a divisive issue within Parliament, with strong opinions on both sides. The Commons is not expected to give final approval to the bill until at least June 13th.
Key figures in the discussion surrounding the bill have expressed concerns about the process, with Labour MP Melanie Ward highlighting the chaotic nature of recent amendments and the impact assessment revisions. Independent peer Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson criticized the process as disappointing, questioning the accuracy of the numbers presented. While there are differing opinions on the bill, support from MPs like Sarah Pochin demonstrates confidence in the checks and balances in place to protect terminally ill individuals.
Broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen and Labour MP Jess Asato have engaged in a debate over the bill, highlighting the personal and faith-based perspectives that shape individual opinions. Additionally, a new bill in England and Wales would allow any doctor to participate in assisted dying, a practice that GPs have varying opinions on. The Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Psychiatrists have raised concerns about the bill’s deficiencies, emphasizing the need for stricter safeguards and better care provisions in the legislation
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