16 hours ago
MPs face huge decision as they vote on historic assisted dying bill
MPs will today decide whether assisted dying should be legalised, with historic legislation on a knife-edge.
Campaigners have called on MPs to change the law to give terminally ill people expected to live less than six months more control over how they die. But critics have voiced concerns about safeguards and warn it will set a "dangerous" precedent.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has been undergoing intense Commons scrutiny since November, when it passed its first hurdle by 330 votes to 275, a majority of 55. But some MPs have changed their mind since then, meaning it could go down to the wire.
We'll be following the debate throughout the day.
A terminally ill grandmother today tells MPs: 'I've had a good life, I would like the choice of a good death.'
Jane Popplewell, 63, has been diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, and fears she could die in pain.
Explaining why she backs Kim Leadbeater's assisted dying bill she said: 'I feel passionately about this. It's about choice in a liberal society. My understanding is about 80% of the electorate are in favour. It's not about forcing it on anyone. It's about not dying in an undignified or painful way. Who would want that?
'When you have a terminal illness, the fact it might happen to you, it's difficult to imagine what that's like until it does. Who knows what my end will be like. I've led a good life and I would like the choice of a good death. I feel that everyone should have the right to that choice.'
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Opponents of the assisted dying Bill last night called on MPs to vote it down.
In an impassioned letter four Labour MPs said the legislation "simply does not do enough" to protect the vulnerable. The backbenchers wrote: "Some people lack the capacity to choose.
"Some people's ability to choose is clouded by their mental health. Some people are coerced into making a decision they didn't want to make.
"And some people may make choices that they wouldn't otherwise make with full sight of the facts." The four - Markus Campbell-Savours, Kanishka Narayan, Paul Foster and Jonathan Hinder - said many live longer than medics predict
They pointed to reports that one in five patients given six months to live go on to have three years or more.. No one should be robbed of the possibility of an extra three years of precious memories with loved ones," they wrote.
Fellow Labour MP Dan Carden (pictured below) yesterday said he had switched against the Bill, having previously abstained. He said: 'Legalising assisted suicide will normalise the choice of death over life, care, respect and love.'
The Bill is back for third reading, which is the first time MPs will vote on the overall bill since November. Some amendments may be voted on before the debate turns to the whole Bill.
At the last vote in November, MPs backed it by 330 to 275, majority 55, to give the bill second reading. Some MPs could change their vote so both camps have been closely monitoring the numbers.
If it passes, then it will move onto the House of Lords for further scrutiny. It could return to the Commons if peers try to amend it, in a process known as "ping pong". But the Lords is not supposed to frustrate a piece of legislation passed by the Commons, as MPs are elected by the public and peers are not.
If the bill doesn't pass, it falls - meaning it won't become law. It is unlikely another attempt to legalise assisted dying would be made for years if this one doesn't pass.
A vote would be expected to take place mid-afternoon.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, would change the law to allow adults with a terminal illness in England and Wales to apply for an assisted death.
The person needs to have fewer than six months to live and have the mental capacity to make the choice. Their decision must be "clear, settled and informed" at every stage - and free from coercion.
The application would be subject to approval by two doctors and an expert panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist.
The terminally ill person would take an approved substance to end their life. The bill doesn't specify what drug. This will be provided by a doctor but only the person can take it - they cannot be fed it by someone else.
Doctors won't be forced to take part in assisted dying as MPs have inserted a new clause to make this explicit. This also applies to anyone else who could be involved, such as care workers and pharmacists.
Independent advocates will be created to support people with learning disabilities, autism or mental health conditions, as well as a disability advisory board.
Other amendments made include banning assisted dying adverts and a ban on medics being able to raise the idea with anyone under 18.
