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MPs to debate assisted dying legislation MPs to debate assisted dying legislation
(34 minutes later)
Legislation that would give terminally ill patients the right to die is to be debated by the House of Commons.Legislation that would give terminally ill patients the right to die is to be debated by the House of Commons.
The Labour MP Rob Marris, who topped the ballot for private members’ bills, is to adopt draft regulations drawn up by Lord Falconer.The Labour MP Rob Marris, who topped the ballot for private members’ bills, is to adopt draft regulations drawn up by Lord Falconer.
The bill proposed by the former lord chancellor and justice secretary ran out of time in the Lords during the last parliament despite gathering significant support.The bill proposed by the former lord chancellor and justice secretary ran out of time in the Lords during the last parliament despite gathering significant support.
Falconer secured only 21st place in the peers’ ballot after the election and had suggested that a better placed MP might adopt his measure.Falconer secured only 21st place in the peers’ ballot after the election and had suggested that a better placed MP might adopt his measure.
The assisted dying bill would allow doctors to prescribe a lethal dose to terminally ill patients judged to have six months or less to live and who request it.The assisted dying bill would allow doctors to prescribe a lethal dose to terminally ill patients judged to have six months or less to live and who request it.
Any patient would be assessed to ensure that thay had formed a “clear and settled intention” to end their life. The prescription would be subject to the approval of two doctors and a high court judge. Any patient would be assessed to ensure that they had formed a “clear and settled intention” to end their life. The prescription would be subject to the approval of two doctors and a high court judge.
The bill put forward by Marris is expected to be debated on 11 September. The MP for Wolverhampton South West, said: “The public are clearly in favour of a change in the law and it is right that parliament now debates this issue. The bill put forward by Marris is expected to be debated on 11 September. The MP for Wolverhampton South West said: “The public are clearly in favour of a change in the law and it is right that parliament now debates this issue.
“Alongside the vast majority of the public, I am in favour of terminally ill people who are of sound mind having choice at the end of life. It is a choice that I would want for myself and I do not think we should be denying this to people who are facing an imminent death.”“Alongside the vast majority of the public, I am in favour of terminally ill people who are of sound mind having choice at the end of life. It is a choice that I would want for myself and I do not think we should be denying this to people who are facing an imminent death.”
Marris said MPs had not voted on the issue in almost 20 years and that the prospect of changing the law would be difficult without government support. But he added: “This is an opportunity to show we in parliament are not ducking our responsibility to the public and I look forward to continuing the case for a compassionate assisted dying law.”Marris said MPs had not voted on the issue in almost 20 years and that the prospect of changing the law would be difficult without government support. But he added: “This is an opportunity to show we in parliament are not ducking our responsibility to the public and I look forward to continuing the case for a compassionate assisted dying law.”
Private members’ bills usually require some government backing if they are to make it on to the statute book. Falconer pointed out this month that “the major changes that happened to divorce, homosexuality and abortion in the 1960s were made through private members’ bills for which the government made time available”.Private members’ bills usually require some government backing if they are to make it on to the statute book. Falconer pointed out this month that “the major changes that happened to divorce, homosexuality and abortion in the 1960s were made through private members’ bills for which the government made time available”.
In the Lords, shortly afterwards, the justice minister Lord Faulks implied that support might be forthcoming. “I do not want to raise expectations in this regard,” he said, “but the government are aware of the issue and will consider the question during the course of the next months or years.” In the Lords, shortly afterwards, the justice minister, Lord Faulks, implied that support might be forthcoming. “I do not want to raise expectations in this regard,” he said, “but the government are aware of the issue and will consider the question during the course of the next months or years.”
Campaigners in favour of a change in the law claimed MPs could not ignore a situation in which people, who can afford to do so, travel to Swiss euthanasia clinic Dignitas or kill themselves in the UK. Campaigners in favour of a change in the law claimed MPs could not ignore a situation in which people who can afford to do so travel to Swiss euthanasia clinic Dignitas or kill themselves in the UK.
Sarah Wootton, chief executive of campaign group Dignity in Dying, said: “I welcome Rob Marris’s commitment to show compassion to dying people and give choice at the end of life. As the first Commons private member’s bill introduced on the issue, it is a signal to the new parliament that assisted dying is the pressing social issue of our time. Sarah Wootton, the chief executive of campaign group Dignity in Dying, said: “I welcome Rob Marris’s commitment to show compassion to dying people and give choice at the end of life. As the first Commons private member’s bill introduced on the issue, it is a signal to the new parliament that assisted dying is the pressing social issue of our time.
“With one person a fortnight travelling to Dignitas, and more than 300 terminally ill people a year taking their own lives in this country behind closed doors, it is vital that parliament no longer turns a blind eye.“With one person a fortnight travelling to Dignitas, and more than 300 terminally ill people a year taking their own lives in this country behind closed doors, it is vital that parliament no longer turns a blind eye.
“The Lords demonstrated it is now a question of how, not if, we change the law and I look forward to members of parliament discussing the best law to protect vulnerable people but, crucially, give dying people choice.”“The Lords demonstrated it is now a question of how, not if, we change the law and I look forward to members of parliament discussing the best law to protect vulnerable people but, crucially, give dying people choice.”
But Agnes Fletcher, director of the organisation Living and Dying Well, told the Guardian: “The exisitng Suicide Act is operating effectively and there’s no compelling evidence that it needs to change. There’s been no prosecution of anyone helping people going to Switzerland.” But Agnes Fletcher, the director of the organisation Living and Dying Well, told the Guardian: “The existing Suicide Act is operating effectively and there’s no compelling evidence that it needs to change. There’s been no prosecution of anyone helping people going to Switzerland.”
Falconer, now the shadow justice secretary, said he was grateful to Marris for continuing the campaign to change the law.Falconer, now the shadow justice secretary, said he was grateful to Marris for continuing the campaign to change the law.