Contentious Assisted Dying Bill Heads for Decisive Vote Following Intense Discussions on Controversial Proposal
Fight for Life-Ending Option Heads to Commons Vote
A long-awaited bill giving terminally ill adults the right to end their lives is facing a critical showdown in the British Parliament today. Known as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill or more commonly, the assisted dying bill, this controversial legislation could become law if MPs vote in its favor during the third reading.
After facing two previous readings, this is the first time MPs will vote on the overall bill since its yes vote in November, and every vote matters, as the margin of victory was relatively narrow—only 55 votes.
If the bill passes, it will move on to the next stage in the House of Lords. However, a no vote could take another decade to revisit this topic in parliament.
At a press conference on Thursday, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who introduced the bill last October, expressed her confidence that the vote will be successful. She stressed that even though there may be minor shifts in opinions, the majority in favor of the bill is expected to remain.
However, the eve of the vote has brought a setback as four Labour MPs have announced they will switch their vote from yes to no, labeling the bill "drastically weakened." The primary reason for their concerns is the removal of the High Court Judge safeguard.
Leadbeater maintains that these safeguards are being strengthened, as the legislation proposes replacing High Court judge approval with multidisciplinary panels, which would include a social worker, senior legal figure, and psychiatrist.
Under the proposed conditions, terminally ill adults, with less than six months to live, can apply for an assisted death, subject to the approval of two doctors and the multidisciplinary panel.
The polls have shown that a majority of Britons support the bill, with around 72% in favor, including 59% who oppose the principle of euthanasia but are willing to back it under specific circumstances.
However, there is opposition from medical organizations like the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of Pathologists, and the Royal College of Physicians who have raised concerns about the bill's current form, questioning whether it truly addresses the needs of patients and considering the shortage of qualified psychiatrists to take part in the assisted dying panels.
Stay tuned for updates on the bill's progress in the House of Lords.
Want to keep up with the latest news on this topic?Follow us hereFind out more about the arguments for and against assisted dying in our in-depth articles:
- The assisted dying debate: politics like never before
- Terminal suffering vs. a peaceful exit: two personal accounts on the assisted dying vote
- Assisted dying bill: the reactions from both sides of the debate after the historic vote
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