Assisted dying: where do we stand now on the path to legalisation?
Since my last article in the 12th edition of Airborne (Spring 2024), a significant step forward has been taken in the campaign to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide. As yet, the situation remains unchanged, but in November 2024 the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed a crucial vote in the House of Commons, marking a historic moment in this ongoing debate.
This vote represents a key shift towards legalising assisted dying for terminally ill patients, with MPs backing the Bill’s provisions for compassionate end-of-life choices under strict safeguards. With growing public support and a clear momentum in Parliament, the Bill’s passage signals that the UK is moving closer to allowing those suffering from terminal illness the right to make their own decisions about how and when they die.
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
The Bill, introduced by Labour MP, Kim Leadbeater, aims to give terminally ill adults (aged 18 and over) with mental capacity the right to end their life on their own terms, without facing legal consequences. This is an option currently unavailable in the UK, forcing those who wish to die on their own terms to travel to places like Dignitas in Switzerland – an expensive, challenging journey that must be made while they’re still physically able, and often alone, as loved ones risk prosecution for assisting in the act.
The Bill includes several key safeguards to ensure the process of assisted suicide is controlled, transparent and fully voluntary, including independent medical assessments, Court approval and clear and repeated consent.
As long as the strict legal requirements are fulfilled, then it ensures that doctors and those who assist in the process won’t face criminal charges.
Why the change of heart?
Assisted dying is not a new issue in Parliament, having been debated several times before November 2024. However, previous discussions have always ended in votes against its legalisation.
However, public opinion on assisted dying has shifted significantly. A poll for Dignity in Dying in February 2024 found that 75% of respondents were supportive of making it lawful in the UK. Public figures like broadcaster Esther Rantzen have also voiced their strong backing for the cause.
With assisted dying legal in several countries, it is surely time for Parliament to take note of public opinion and address the outdated Suicide Act 1961, which still makes assisted dying illegal in the UK.
What next?
The Bill is currently at the committee stage, where it undergoes detailed examination, with potential evidence being gathered from experts and interest groups outside Parliament. Once this stage concludes, the Bill will be re-printed and moved to the report stage in the House of Commons, where it can be debated again, and further amendments proposed.
There are still several stages for the Bill to pass through, and there’s no guarantee it will become law, as it could face setbacks or be rejected along the way.
In the meantime, I believe we must make death and dying less taboo, creating an environment where open, confident conversations can happen. We also need more investment in palliative end-of-life care.
While the Bill marks progress in the assisted dying debate, we’re still far from seeing any real change, and the issue remains deeply divisive.
Contact our mesothelioma and asbestos claims specialists today.
Call now
