A proposed law to legalize assisted dying in England and Wales could mean terminally ill adults will be able to end their own lives from next month.
Under plans revealed last night, people diagnosed with a terminal illness and who have less than six months to live would be allowed to obtain and administer lethal drugs that would cause instant death.
However, the new law would not apply to people with physical disabilities and mental illnesses.
MPs will debate and vote on the bill, called the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, on November 29.
But not everyone who suffers from a terminal illness will be able to make this decision, as patients will have to meet a list of requirements.
Under the bill, the patient must be a resident of England and Wales and have been registered with a GP for at least a year. They must also be terminal and expected to die within the next six months.
Patients must have the mental capacity to make decisions free of coercion or pressure. They must also make two separate statements about their wish to die, both witnessed and signed.
Then, two independent doctors must also be satisfied that the person is eligible, with at least seven days between each doctor’s assessments.
MPs will debate and vote on the bill, called the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, on November 29.
The case would then be referred to a Superior Court judge, who would hear from at least one of the doctors and could also question the dying person.
Subsequently, patients must wait 14 more days after the judge’s ruling before moving forward with their decision, so the expected wait between their medical evaluation and the end of their life is about three weeks.
However, doctors would have no obligation to participate in the assisted dying process.
While a doctor can prepare the substance used to end the patient’s life, only the patient can administer it.
The bill would make it illegal to use “dishonesty, coercion or pressure” to get a terminally ill patient to say they want help in dying.
It will also become a crime to force someone to take the lethal dose of medication supplied for approved applications, with prison sentences of up to 14 years for those convicted.
Assisted suicide is currently banned in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
Although it is not a criminal offense in Scotland, helping someone to die can leave a person open to being charged with murder or other crimes.
Supporters of the proposed new law have been setting out safeguards that would be put in place before a debate and vote in the House of Commons at the end of the month.
Kim Leadbeater, the Labor MP introducing it, warned last night that MPs could have to wait another decade to change the law if they do not pass it now.
The vote is considered close and some senior cabinet ministers, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, say they plan to vote against it.
Critics say the bill is being rushed through without enough scrutiny and does not contain enough safeguards against abuse.
