MPs vote for bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales
GuardianNOV 20 2024
The Terminally Ill Adults Bill would allow mentally competent adults with less than six months to live to request medical assistance in ending their lives, requiring approval from two doctors and a High Court judge.
The legislation includes strict safeguards, including a mandatory 14-day reflection period and a maximum 14-year prison sentence for anyone who coerces someone into requesting assisted dying.
Recent polling shows 73% of Britons support legalizing assisted dying, though 19% oppose it in practice due to concerns about adequate regulatory safeguards.
The bill poses significant risks to vulnerable individuals who might feel pressured to end their lives due to being a burden, while the proposed safeguards are inadequate and the legislation is being rushed through without proper consideration of its implications.