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How could assisted dying laws change across the UK? How could assisted dying laws change across the UK?
(about 20 hours later)
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater says her bill includes "the strictest safeguards anywhere in the world" MSP Liam McArthur with campaigners outside Holyrood ahead of the debate
MSPs in Scotland will debate and vote on plans to legalise assisted dying later on Tuesday. MSPs have backed a bill to legalise assisted dying in Scotland.
It comes days before MPs in Westminster have another chance to consider a separate bill which would legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. The vote took place days before MPs in Westminster have another chance to consider a separate bill which would legalise assisted dying in England and Wales.
A majority of MPs backed the bill in November 2024, after which a cross-party committee considered the legislation in detail. Family doctors in England are deeply divided on the question, BBC research suggests.
How might the law change in Scotland?How might the law change in Scotland?
The assisted dying bill being considered in the Scottish Parliament says that eligible applicants would have to:The assisted dying bill being considered in the Scottish Parliament says that eligible applicants would have to:
be resident in Scotland for at least 12 monthsbe resident in Scotland for at least 12 months
be registered with a GP in Scotlandbe registered with a GP in Scotland
be terminally illbe terminally ill
have the mental capacity to make the requesthave the mental capacity to make the request
Earlier in May Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, who drafted the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, said he will raise the minimum age in the proposed legislation from 16 to 18. Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, who drafted the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, said he will raise the proposed minimum age from 16 to 18.
The "stage one vote" on Tuesday is on the general principles of the bill. It is a free vote which means MSPs will not be told how to vote by their parties or the government. Tuesday's "stage one vote" on the bill's general principles was a free vote, which means MSPs could vote as they wish.
If there are more "yes" votes than "noes", the bill will progress to stage two, where MSPs can propose changes. It passed by 70 votes to 56, with one abstention.
Another vote on the final draft of the bill would be held before it could become law. The bill would need to clear two more phases of parliamentary scrutiny before it could become law.
If MSPs do not back the bill at stage one, it will fall. What next for Scotland's assisted dying bill?
First Minister John Swinney and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes have said they will not support the bill, as have former first ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf and current Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. How your MSP voted on the assisted dying bill
Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy - the first permanent wheelchair user to be elected to Holyrood - is also opposed.
Supporters include Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton, ex-Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw and Scottish Greens co-leaders Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie.
Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray, who will speak for the government during the debate, said he would abstain from the vote.
MSPs to vote on assisted dying in Scotland
Could assisted dying be coming to Scotland?
What is the proposed law on assisted dying in England and Wales?What is the proposed law on assisted dying in England and Wales?
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was introduced by backbench Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater.
It proposes giving terminally ill people the right to choose to end their life if they: It proposes letting terminally ill people end their life if they:
are over 18 and live in England and Wales, and have been registered with a GP for at least 12 months are over 18, live in England or Wales, and have been registered with a GP for at least 12 months
have the mental capacity to make the choice and be deemed to have expressed a clear, settled and informed wish, free from coercion or pressurehave the mental capacity to make the choice and be deemed to have expressed a clear, settled and informed wish, free from coercion or pressure
be expected to die within six monthsbe expected to die within six months
make two separate declarations, witnessed and signed, about their wish to diemake two separate declarations, witnessed and signed, about their wish to die
satisfy two independent doctors that they are eligible - with at least seven days between each assessmentsatisfy two independent doctors that they are eligible - with at least seven days between each assessment
Once a patient's application has been approved, they would have to wait 14 days before proceeding. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater says her bill includes "the strictest safeguards anywhere in the world"
Once an application has been approved, the patient would have to wait 14 days before proceeding.
A doctor would prepare the substance being used to end the patient's life, but the person would take it themselves.A doctor would prepare the substance being used to end the patient's life, but the person would take it themselves.
The bill defines the co-ordinating doctor as a registered medical practitioner with "training, qualifications and experience" at a level to be specified by the health secretary. It does not say which drug would be used.The bill defines the co-ordinating doctor as a registered medical practitioner with "training, qualifications and experience" at a level to be specified by the health secretary. It does not say which drug would be used.
It would be illegal to use dishonesty, pressure, or to coerce someone into declaring they want to end their life, with a possible 14-year prison sentence. It would be illegal to coerce someone into declaring they want to end their life, with a possible 14-year prison sentence.
'Northern Ireland is being left behind on assisted dying' A majority of MPs backed the bill in November 2024.
How has the Leadbeater bill changed? How has the Leadbeater bill changed since the first MP vote?
A committee of 23 MPs - including 14 supporters and nine opponents - has gone through the legislation line by line. It held a series of public hearings and took evidence from experts. A committee of 23 MPs - including 14 supporters and nine opponents - has gone through the legislation line by line.
It held a series of public hearings and took evidence from experts.
Under the original proposals, a High Court judge would have to approve each request to end a life.Under the original proposals, a High Court judge would have to approve each request to end a life.
However, Leadbeater suggested a three-person panel comprising a senior legal figure, a psychiatrist and a social worker should oversee applications instead. However, the committee accepted Leadbeater's suggestion that a three-person panel comprising a senior legal figure, a psychiatrist and a social worker should oversee applications instead.
The MPs reviewing the bill agreed to adopt this approach. Other changes include:
There were concerns the High Court would not have capacity to rule on each individual case. However, opponents say the change undermines the bill's safeguards. doubling the maximum time between the bill being passed and the law coming into effect from two years to four, to give more time for training and finalising new systems
Other changes agreed by the committee include: insisting that doctors must set out palliative care options during initial discussions about assisted dying
extending the maximum time between the bill being passed by Parliament and the law coming fully into effect from two years to four years, to allow more time for training and setting up new systems specifying the law wouldn't come into effect in Wales without Senedd approval
adding a new rule that doctors must set out palliative care options when having an initial discussion with a patient about assisted dying
ensuring the law wouldn't come into effect in Wales until it had been approved by a vote in the Senedd
When could assisted dying become law in England and Wales?
Months of activity still lie ahead in the Commons and the Lords.
It is still possible that the bill could fall and not become law at all.
The bill returns to the House of Commons on Friday 16 May, when all MPs will have the chance to propose and vote on further changes. There won't be a vote on whether to pass or reject the entire bill.The bill returns to the House of Commons on Friday 16 May, when all MPs will have the chance to propose and vote on further changes. There won't be a vote on whether to pass or reject the entire bill.
It will be subject to further scrutiny in the Commons and the Lords, and more voting. The legislation will then be subject to further scrutiny in the Commons and the Lords, with further votes.
If the bill is eventually approved, the law would be expected to take effect within two to four years.
How did MPs vote on assisted dying?
The historic vote saw 330 MPs support the assisted dying bill, and 275 reject it.
MPs were given a free vote, meaning they could make their own decision rather than follow party instructions.
The government did not support or oppose the bill.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer voted in favour of the bill, as did Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
However, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood all voted against.
Most Conservative MPs rejected the bill, including party leader Kemi Badenoch. Former PM Rishi Sunak and former deputy PM Oliver Dowden were among Tory MPs who supported it.
When MPs last voted on the issue in 2015, they rejected different proposals by 330 votes to 118.
'Hardest decision of my career': MPs wrestle with assisted dying choice
Assisted dying bill: How did your MP vote?
Who opposes assisted dying?Who opposes assisted dying?
Opponents warn that people could be put under pressure to end their lives and want improvements to palliative care instead.
Paralympian and House of Lords crossbencher Baroness Grey-Thompson is a vocal critic.Paralympian and House of Lords crossbencher Baroness Grey-Thompson is a vocal critic.
She told the BBC she is worried about "the impact on vulnerable people, on disabled people, [the risk of] coercive control, and the ability of doctors to make a six-month diagnosis". She is worried that disabled and other vulnerable people could be put under pressure to end their lives - and that doctors may struggle to make accurate six-month diagnoses.
Baroness Grey-Thompson (C) is a long-standing critic of legalising assisted dying.Baroness Grey-Thompson (C) is a long-standing critic of legalising assisted dying.
Actor and disability-rights activist Liz Carr, who made the BBC One documentary Better Off Dead?, also opposes changing the law. Actor and disability-rights activist Liz Carr, who made the BBC One documentary Better Off Dead?, also opposes the legislation.
"Some of us have very real fears based on our lived experience and based on what has happened in other countries where it's legal," she wrote on X."Some of us have very real fears based on our lived experience and based on what has happened in other countries where it's legal," she wrote on X.
Dr Gordon Macdonald, from campaign group Care Not Killing, said: "This bill is being rushed with indecent haste and ignores the deep-seated problems in the UK's broken and patchy palliative care system." Dr Gordon Macdonald, from campaign group Care Not Killing, said the bill ignores the wider "deep-seated problems in the UK's broken and patchy palliative care system".
The British Medical Association, which represents doctors, and the Royal College of Nursing are neutral on the issue.
More than 1,000 GPs responded to a BBC questionnaire on attitudes to changing the law, with about 500 saying they were opposed, and about 400 in favour.
‘People will make bad decisions because we don’t talk honestly about death’‘People will make bad decisions because we don’t talk honestly about death’
'Palliative care is not good enough - there's no plan to fix it''Palliative care is not good enough - there's no plan to fix it'
Why do supporters want the law on assisted dying to change? Why do supporters want assisted dying legalised?
Leadbeater argues the law needs changing because some people "have a horrible, harrowing death", however good their end-of-life or palliative care is. Leadbeater argues that some people "have a horrible, harrowing death", however good their end-of-life care is.
Cancer patient Nathaniel Dye worked on the bill with Leadbeater. He said it would allow people a death which was "as kind and compassionate as possible". The Dignity in Dying campaign group said her bill provides the "most detailed, robust proposals" on the issue that "Westminster has ever considered".
The Dignity in Dying campaign group said the bill provides the "most detailed, robust proposals" on the issue that "Westminster has ever considered". According to chief executive Sarah Wootton, the fact that every year "up to 650 terminally ill people end their own lives, often in lonely and traumatic ways," shows the need for reform.
According to chief executive Sarah Wootton, the fact that every year "up to 650 terminally ill people end their own lives, often in lonely and traumatic ways," shows that the status quo is not working.
Dame Esther Rantzen, who has stage four lung cancer, has joined Dignitas in SwitzerlandDame Esther Rantzen, who has stage four lung cancer, has joined Dignitas in Switzerland
One of the highest-profile advocates for change is broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen, who has stage-four lung cancer. Broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen, who has stage-four lung cancer, is another long-standing campaigner for change. "All I'm asking for is that we be given the dignity of choice," she said.
"All I'm asking for is that we be given the dignity of choice," Dame Esther told BBC News. The NHS is spending a fortune giving people a death they don't want
Both the British Medical Association, which represents doctors, and the Royal College of Nursing are neutral.
InDepth: The NHS is spending a fortune giving people a death they don't want
How might the law change in the Isle of Man and Jersey?How might the law change in the Isle of Man and Jersey?
The Isle of Man and Jersey are both part of the British Isles but are able to set their own laws. They have both been considering proposals to allow assisted dying. The Isle of Man and Jersey are both part of the British Isles but are able to set their own laws.
The Isle of Man parliament passed its Assisted Dying Bill on 25 March. It will now be sent for Royal Assent, where King Charles will give formal approval for it to become law. The Isle of Man passed its Assisted Dying Bill in March, and the new system could be in place by 2027.
Covering adults who have lived on the island for five years and are expected to die within 12 months, the measures could be in place by 2027. Jersey's politicians approved plans to allow assisted dying for those facing "unbearable suffering" in May 2024. The final legislation is being written. If approved, new rules could take effect from summer 2027.
In May 2024, Jersey's politicians approved plans to allow assisted dying for those with a terminal illness "causing unbearable suffering".
Final legislation is being written, and if approved, an 18-month implementation period would begin. New rules would take effect in summer 2027 at the earliest.
Guernsey: Request to make assisted dying legal could be made in 2025
What are assisted dying, assisted suicide and euthanasia?What are assisted dying, assisted suicide and euthanasia?
There is some debate over exactly what the terms mean.There is some debate over exactly what the terms mean.
However, assisted dying generally refers to a person who is terminally ill receiving lethal drugs from a medical practitioner, which they administer themselves.However, assisted dying generally refers to a person who is terminally ill receiving lethal drugs from a medical practitioner, which they administer themselves.
Assisted suicide is intentionally helping another person to end their life, including someone who is not terminally ill. That could involve providing lethal medication or helping them travel to another jurisdiction to die.Assisted suicide is intentionally helping another person to end their life, including someone who is not terminally ill. That could involve providing lethal medication or helping them travel to another jurisdiction to die.
Euthanasia is the act of deliberately ending a person's life to relieve suffering in which a lethal drug is administered by a physician. Patients may not be terminally ill.Euthanasia is the act of deliberately ending a person's life to relieve suffering in which a lethal drug is administered by a physician. Patients may not be terminally ill.
There are two types: voluntary euthanasia, where a patient consents; and non-voluntary, where they cannot because, for example, they are in a coma.There are two types: voluntary euthanasia, where a patient consents; and non-voluntary, where they cannot because, for example, they are in a coma.
Where is euthanasia or assisted dying legal around the world?Where is euthanasia or assisted dying legal around the world?
The Dignity in Dying campaign group says more than 200 million people around the world have legal access to assisted dying. The Dignity in Dying campaign group says more than 200 million people around the world have legal access to some form of assisted dying.
Switzerland has allowed assisted suicide since 1942. Its Dignitas facility accepts foreign patients as well as Swiss nationals, and between 1998 and 2023 it helped 571 Britons to die.Switzerland has allowed assisted suicide since 1942. Its Dignitas facility accepts foreign patients as well as Swiss nationals, and between 1998 and 2023 it helped 571 Britons to die.
Assisted suicide is also legal in Austria.Assisted suicide is also legal in Austria.
In the US, 10 states - Oregon, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Washington, Hawaii, New Jersey, Vermont, Maine and Washington DC - allow "physician-assisted dying". It permits doctors to prescribe lethal drugs for self-administration. In the US, 10 states allow "physician-assisted dying" where doctors can prescribe lethal drugs for self-administration.
Voluntary euthanasia is legal in Canada, where it is called medical assistance in dying. It can be provided by a doctor or nurse practitioner, either in person or through the prescription of drugs for self-administration. Medically assisted dying accounted for 4.7% of deaths in Canada in 2023. In Canada, voluntary euthanasia or "medical assistance in dying" can be provided by a doctor or nurse practitioner, either in person or through the prescription of drugs for self-administration.
It is also legal in Spain and Colombia, both of which also permit assisted suicide. Voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide are also legal in Spain and Colombia.
Assisted dying is legal in some parts of Australia, but the law differs across states. Assisted dying is legal in some parts of Australia - though the law differs across states - and in New Zealand.
New Zealand's End of Life Choice Act legalises assisted dying and allows adults in their final months of life to request assistance from a medical professional. The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg let people who are not terminally ill receive assistance to die.
Three countries have laws that allow people who are not terminally ill to receive assistance to die: The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
How does assisted dying work in other countries?How does assisted dying work in other countries?
Update 3 January 2025: This piece has been updated to give further detail on the definition of a co-ordinating doctor.Update 3 January 2025: This piece has been updated to give further detail on the definition of a co-ordinating doctor.