Kim Leadbeater MP’s assisted dying bill “strongest MPs have ever considered”, as historic proposal published in full
Kim Leadbeater MBE, Labour MP for Spen Valley, has today (10pm, Monday 11 November 2024) published the full text of her Private Member’s Bill on choice at the end of life, setting out in detail how the proposal will make assisted dying the safest and most regulated end-of-life practice. It comes ahead of its Second Reading on Friday 29 November – the first time MPs will vote on proposed assisted dying legislation for almost a decade – with several stages of scrutiny and debate to follow if MPs support it at this stage.
The Bill, co-sponsored by a group of cross-party MPs, provides the most detailed, robust proposal on assisted dying reform that Westminster has ever considered.
Central to proposals is the strict limiting of the choice to terminally ill, mentally competent adults with six months or less to live; creating an option for those already dying to ease and shorten death. Many already attempt to exercise control over their deaths, but without any regulatory oversight or protections in place to detect or prevent potential abuse.
Currently, every year up to 650 terminally ill people end their own lives, often in lonely and traumatic ways, with more than 6,000 who would be estimated to die in pain despite the best care. Dozens of Britons travel to Switzerland each year to access assisted dying at an average cost of £15,000, either alone or with loved ones who risk lengthy police investigations for accompanying them.
Kim Leadbeater MP’s Bill will introduce new measures to assess eligibility, ensure medical and judicial oversight, and monitor every step of the assisted dying process, with new criminal offences created to help protect against any possibility of coercion.
Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying, said:
“This is the strongest proposal Parliament has ever considered on improving choice and protections for dying people. Compassion and safety are the cornerstones of Kim Leadbeater MP’s assisted dying bill; bringing choice to those who want and need it as they die, but also introducing regulation and scrutiny where there is currently none. That benefits us all.
“Kim has built on best practice from laws for terminally ill people proven to work safely overseas, alongside the detailed findings of the recent Health Select Committee inquiry. The result is a practical, UK model for law change that will end the cruel and dangerous status quo, while introducing new safety measures.
“Under these proposals, assisted dying can be requested only by terminally ill, mentally competent adults. This would bring England and Wales in line with the majority of assisted dying laws around the world, including those in 10 US states, across Australia and New Zealand, as well as legislation being considered in Scotland, Jersey and the Isle of Man. The Health and Social Care Select Committee found these laws to be safe and not one has widened its criteria, nor have any been repealed. As the inquiry noted, these laws often lead to improvements to end of life care as a whole – conversations about which Kim’s Bill has already prompted.
“Three-quarters of the public agree that this is the right law for the UK, no matter where they live or who they vote for. Many have experienced the devastating effects of banning this option: witnessing prolonged, traumatic deaths despite the best care, or terminally ill relatives taking matters into their own hands at home or abroad. This is inarguable evidence that the status quo is not working.
“If MPs agree, they must back this Bill on 29th November to ensure a full, constructive and comprehensive debate can take place. This is a critical opportunity to bring about real change for dying people and their families; MPs must grasp it with both hands.”
The Private Members’ Bill’s Second Reading debate on Friday 29th November will be the first time MPs have the opportunity to debate and vote for an assisted dying bill in nearly 10 years. If a majority of MPs vote in favour at Second Reading, the Bill will then move to Committee Stage, unlocking a vital debate on the detail of the proposed law, followed by further debates and votes in both Houses next year. Private Members’ Bills have been responsible for some of the most significant social reforms introduced in the UK, including the abolition of the death penalty, the right to safe abortion and the decriminalisation of homosexuality.
Other measures set out in the Bill include:
- Eligibility: The bill offers choice only to terminally ill adults with mental capacity if they are expected to die within 6 months. The bill specifically excludes people with disabilities or mental illness alone.
- Protections: All requests must be made on the basis of a clear, settled and informed decision by the person concerned. All the options available, including palliative care and pain relief, must be discussed. The dying person’s decision must be confirmed at every stage and they can change their mind at any time.
- Medical supervision: Two doctors must independently confirm that the person meets the eligibility criteria and has made a voluntary decision free from coercion. An independent specialist must be consulted if there is any doubt about the person’s mental capacity or if the doctor lacks expertise in the terminal illness concerned. No medical practitioner will be under any obligation to engage with the process.
- Judicial oversight: If two independent doctors agree that the person is eligible the application must go before the High Court where the judge must be satisfied that the law has been correctly followed after speaking to the doctor and hearing from anybody else they wish to consult.
- Period of Reflection: There must be at least seven days between the two medical assessments and a further 14 days after the decision by the High Court.
- Safety: Strict protocols will ensure the safe prescribing, transportation and administration of all medication. The process must be overseen by a trained medical practitioner who will be expressly forbidden from taking any action to end the person’s life. The medication must be self-administered and if it is not used it must be removed immediately.
- Monitoring: The application of the law will be very closely monitored with details of every assisted death collected and published annually. The operation of the law and the availability of palliative care will be reviewed regularly with Parliament given the opportunity to scrutinise its impact.
- New offences: The bill creates new offences making it illegal by dishonesty, coercion or pressure to induce a person to make a declaration requesting assistance or to self-administer a medication. Falsifying, destroying or concealing documentation would also be against the law.
The MPs who have co-sponsored the Bill are:
Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat)
Jake Richards (Labour)
Dr Jeevun Sandher (Labour)
Kit Malthouse (Conservative)
Paula Barker (Labour)
Peter Bedford (Conservative)
Rachel Hopkins (Labour)
Ruth Cadbury (Labour)
Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat)
Siân Berry (Green)
Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour)
*ENDS*
For more information please contact Joseph Crook, Media and Campaigns Officer at Dignity in Dying, at joseph.crook@dignityindying.org.uk or 07356 135578