Assisted dying legislation appears set to fail in UK Parliament
Legislation aimed at permitting assisted dying for terminally ill adults is likely to fail as it faces significant delays in the House of Lords, which has introduced over 1,000 amendments to the bill, reports BritPanorama.
If not passed by the end of the parliamentary session in May, the bill will lapse. Peers have been accused of employing delaying tactics, leading to intense debate over the nature of the proposed amendments.
Labour peer Baroness Luciana Berger has characterised the legislation as “deeply flawed,” citing serious concerns over its provisions. Meanwhile, peers defending the amendments argue they are fulfilling their duty to scrutinise potentially unsafe legislation.
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, now representing Reform UK, voiced her approval of the bill’s potential failure, describing it as “very good news.” This reflects the ongoing debate about the implications of allowing assisted dying in the UK.
Supporters of the bill assert that it would permit terminally ill individuals with a prognosis of fewer than six months to live to choose assisted death. The proposal gained some traction after passing the House of Commons by a majority of 23 votes last June, but its future now appears uncertain.
Dame Esther Rantzen, 85, who is battling lung cancer and advocates for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, has condemned the situation as “absolute blatant sabotage.” She argues that the sheer volume of amendments is more about blocking the legislation than genuine scrutiny.
In a related development, Jersey recently approved its own assisted dying laws, highlighting the contentious nature of this issue across the UK.
The unfolding debate touches upon evolving perspectives on patient autonomy and the responsibilities of lawmakers in addressing issues surrounding end-of-life choices.
As the House of Lords continues its review, the implications of these legislative maneuvers will resonate well beyond Westminster, affecting public discourse on assisted dying across the nation.
