UK lawmakers voted Friday in favour of assisted dying for terminally ill people in England and Wales, advancing the emotive and contentious legislation to the next stage of parliamentary scrutiny.
for to the end,” Conservative MP Danny Kruger said, urging colleagues to reject a “state suicide service”.
Outside, dozens of opponents gathered holding signs with “Kill the Bill, not the ill” and “Care not killing”, urging MPs to vote against the proposed legislation.
A nearby gathering in favour of the legislation saw people dressed in pink holding placards with slogans such as: “My life, my death, my choice.”
Assisted suicide currently carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
‘Shortening death’
In Scotland, which has a separate legal system and devolved powers to set its own health policy, it is not a specific criminal offence. But it can leave a person open to other charges, including murder.
Leadbeater’s bill would allow assisted suicide in England and Wales for adults with an incurable illness who have a life expectancy of fewer than six months and are able to take the substance that causes their death themselves.
Any patient’s wish to die would have to be signed off by a judge and two doctors.
The measures are stricter than assisted dying laws in other European countries and also proposed legislation being contemplated in France.
Consideration is being given to a similar bill in Scotland.
Leadbeater’s initiative is a so-called private members’ bill and is not part of the government’s agenda, although it follows Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s vow, before winning power in July, to allow parliament to revisit the issue.
MPs had a free vote, meaning predicting the outcome was virtually impossible.
Starmer, who voted in favour of permitting assisted suicide in 2015 with “robust” safeguards, did not reveal his view in the run-up to the vote.
His ministerial team had been instructed to remain neutral but several expressed views, both in support and against.
Two polls last week indicated that a majority of Britons back changing the law.
Faith leaders are among the stringent opponents, with nearly 30 signing a joint letter last weekend arguing they are “deeply concerned” by the plans.
AFP
