This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-34208624
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Assisted Dying Bill: MPs start 'right to die' debate | Assisted Dying Bill: MPs start 'right to die' debate |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MPs are debating whether some terminally ill adults in England and Wales should be allowed to end their lives with medical supervision. | MPs are debating whether some terminally ill adults in England and Wales should be allowed to end their lives with medical supervision. |
| Under proposals, people with less than six months to live could be prescribed a lethal dose of drugs, which only they are allowed to take. | Under proposals, people with less than six months to live could be prescribed a lethal dose of drugs, which only they are allowed to take. |
| It could lead to the first vote in the House of Commons on the issue in nearly 20 years. | It could lead to the first vote in the House of Commons on the issue in nearly 20 years. |
| The Archbishop of Canterbury is among those to have voiced opposition. | The Archbishop of Canterbury is among those to have voiced opposition. |
| The bill is being brought before the Commons by Rob Marris, the Labour MP for Wolverhampton South West. | The bill is being brought before the Commons by Rob Marris, the Labour MP for Wolverhampton South West. |
| LIVE: Watch the assisted dying debate | LIVE: Watch the assisted dying debate |
| Opening the debate, Mr Marris, said the current laws did not meet the needs of the terminally ill, families or the medical profession. | Opening the debate, Mr Marris, said the current laws did not meet the needs of the terminally ill, families or the medical profession. |
| He said there were too many "amateur suicides, and people going to Dignitas" and it was time for parliament to debate the issue because "social attitudes have changed". | He said there were too many "amateur suicides, and people going to Dignitas" and it was time for parliament to debate the issue because "social attitudes have changed". |
| Mr Marris added: "Different people faced with same set of circumstances make different choices. The law in England and Wales has not got the balance right. | Mr Marris added: "Different people faced with same set of circumstances make different choices. The law in England and Wales has not got the balance right. |
| "This Bill would provide more protection for living and more choice for the dying." | "This Bill would provide more protection for living and more choice for the dying." |
| Mr Marris said he did not know whether he would choose to take the option of assisted dying if he were terminally ill, but he said he would find it comforting to know that the choice was available "to have a dignified and peaceful death at the time of my choosing". | Mr Marris said he did not know whether he would choose to take the option of assisted dying if he were terminally ill, but he said he would find it comforting to know that the choice was available "to have a dignified and peaceful death at the time of my choosing". |
| He also sought to allay the fears of disabled people, saying the bill was not relevant to them. | He also sought to allay the fears of disabled people, saying the bill was not relevant to them. |
| The deputy speaker in the Commons said there was "unprecedented" demand to take part in the debate with 85 MPs indicating they wanted to speak. | The deputy speaker in the Commons said there was "unprecedented" demand to take part in the debate with 85 MPs indicating they wanted to speak. |
| The Conservative MP Caroline Spelman warned "the right to die can so easily become the duty to die" and current law provided protection for the elderly and disabled. | |
| She argued there were "not enough safeguards" in the bill and added that it was difficult to determine whether someone had six months to live. | |
| She added: "[The bill] changes the relationship between the doctor and their patient, it would not just legitimise suicide, but promote the participation of others in it." | |
| Mentally competent | Mentally competent |
| Mr Marris won a private member's bill ballot in June guaranteeing time in the chamber for the legislation. | Mr Marris won a private member's bill ballot in June guaranteeing time in the chamber for the legislation. |
| Lord Falconer put the first Assisted Dying Bill before the House of Lords, but it ran out of time before the 2015 general election. | Lord Falconer put the first Assisted Dying Bill before the House of Lords, but it ran out of time before the 2015 general election. |
| MPs are debating the bill this morning and could then have the opportunity to vote on assisted dying for the first time since 1997. | MPs are debating the bill this morning and could then have the opportunity to vote on assisted dying for the first time since 1997. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron is not present at the vote, but a spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has made his views clear on this issue before, he is not convinced that further steps need to be taken and he is not in favour of an approach that would take us closer to euthanasia." | Prime Minister David Cameron is not present at the vote, but a spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has made his views clear on this issue before, he is not convinced that further steps need to be taken and he is not in favour of an approach that would take us closer to euthanasia." |
| Under Marris's bill, two doctors and a High Court judge would have to agree to assisted dying for any patient. That means they would have to be satisfied that he or she was mentally competent, had less than six months to live and had been informed of all the alternatives. | Under Marris's bill, two doctors and a High Court judge would have to agree to assisted dying for any patient. That means they would have to be satisfied that he or she was mentally competent, had less than six months to live and had been informed of all the alternatives. |
| The Bill would only permit the patient to administer the medication to end their own life - not a doctor - so it would not allow euthanasia. | The Bill would only permit the patient to administer the medication to end their own life - not a doctor - so it would not allow euthanasia. |
| Medical professionals would be entitled to refuse to be involved in the process. | Medical professionals would be entitled to refuse to be involved in the process. |
| The Bill would not allow a person with a non-terminal disability or with dementia to be assisted to die. | The Bill would not allow a person with a non-terminal disability or with dementia to be assisted to die. |
| The law on assisted dying around the UK | The law on assisted dying around the UK |
| Euthanasia, which is considered as manslaughter or murder, is illegal under English law. | Euthanasia, which is considered as manslaughter or murder, is illegal under English law. |
| The Suicide Act 1961 makes it an offence to encourage or assist a suicide or a suicide attempt in England and Wales. Anyone doing so could face up to 14 years in prison. | The Suicide Act 1961 makes it an offence to encourage or assist a suicide or a suicide attempt in England and Wales. Anyone doing so could face up to 14 years in prison. |
| The law is almost identical in Northern Ireland. | The law is almost identical in Northern Ireland. |
| There is no specific law on assisted suicide in Scotland, creating some uncertainty, although in theory someone could be prosecuted under homicide legislation. | There is no specific law on assisted suicide in Scotland, creating some uncertainty, although in theory someone could be prosecuted under homicide legislation. |