My Death, My Decision has said Monday’s Commons debate underlined the strength of public feeling over the way the Assisted Dying Bill was blocked from becoming law, despite having passed the House of Commons.

The debate was triggered after more than 114,000 people signed a petition calling for Bills, backed by MPs and the public, to be allowed to complete their passage through Parliament. My Death, My Decision said that level of support shows people understand exactly what happened to the Bill and do not accept it as a legitimate outcome.

During the debate

MPs from across the Commons used Monday’s debate to express their frustration with what had happened.

Andrew George MP, who has been drawn in the Private Members’ Bill ballot, said:

“I have seen people on both sides of the debate were disgusted with the way a small minority of their Lordships were able to abuse powers available to them, not to scrutinise, but to block the bill.”

Lizzie Collinge MP said the Bill:

“was prevented from completing its parliamentary journey by a small number of unelected peers who, in my opinion, showed through their own actions that they had no respect for the constitutional settlement of this country, no respect for the House of Commons, no respect for their own role as scrutineers and no respect for the British public.”

She also spoke about the reality of the current law, saying:

“Where does that leave us? It leaves us in a dangerous status quo where terminally ill adults, with the means to do so, go abroad to die, often too early. It leaves us with a legal situation where the manner of someone’s death and the intention of the people who are with them are determined after someone is dead and can not make their views known. It leaves hundreds of terminally ill adults taking their life every year, often in very upsetting circumstances.”

Dr Simon Opher MP, who has clinical experience and served on the Bill’s Commons Committee, said:

“I would take issue with the fact that this is not a good piece of legislation. I have worked in palliative care for many, many years. This is an excellent piece of legislation. Saying it is weak is simply a tactic because you don’t agree with assisted dying.”

At the end of the debate, Leader of the House Sir Alan Campbell also confirmed that there is a route for the Terminally Ill Adults Bill to be brought back in the Commons, stating that the Parliament Act “applies to all public bills – that includes Private Members Bills.”

What happened in the Lords?

More than 75 hours were spent debating the Bill in the House of Lords, in addition to more than 100 hours in the House of Commons. The Lords transcript ran to 607,077 words, longer than War and Peace. Nearly 1,300 amendments were tabled in the Lords, yet only three minor changes were made.

Campaigners said the Bill deserved proper scrutiny, and they supported that. What followed was something different: scrutiny used as a weapon by a handful of unelected peers to stop the Bill reaching a fair conclusion.

Examples of amendments included a proposed pregnancy test requirement for all applicants, including men, a one-year holiday ban for applicants, and an unworkable requirement for half a dozen GP visits.

Why this matters now

The Government’s own response to the petition states that the primacy of the House of Commons is an established constitutional principle reflected in the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949. Hansard Society has also said the Parliament Acts can apply to Private Members’ Bills, and has published analysis of how that route could work if the same Bill returns and is approved again by the Commons.

My Death, My Decision said the Parliament Act exists for exactly these situations: where the elected House has made its view clear, and the unelected House has prevented the matter reaching a final decision. It would not remove scrutiny. It would stop scrutiny being used to kill the Bill by delay.

Terminally ill people are still waiting, and Parliament is still waiting too. No MP has yet announced they will bring the Bill back through the current Private Members’ Bill route, leaving no settled path forward at a time when public pressure is plainly growing, not fading.

What happens now?

Terminally ill people are still waiting, and Parliament is still waiting too.

No MP has yet announced they will bring the Bill back through the current Private Members’ Bill route, so there is still no settled path forward. But Monday’s debate showed that public pressure is not fading.

We are now calling for:

• MPs supportive of reform to state clearly whether they are prepared to bring the Bill back
• the Government to recognise that the Bill fell because of delay, not defeat
• Parliament to ensure that a Bill backed by the elected House cannot again be lost through procedural obstruction

Ends

Notes to editors

Members of the MDMD team, as well as individuals affected by the current law on assisted dying, are available for interviews upon request.

For further information, the media should contact Kerry Hogan at Kerry.Hogan@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or 07922363248.

My Death, My Decision is a grassroots campaign group that wants the law in England and Wales to allow mentally competent adults who are terminally ill or intolerably suffering from an incurable condition the option of a legal, safe, and compassionate assisted death. With the support of over 3,000 members and supporters, we advocate for an evidence-based law that would balance individual choice alongside robust safeguards and finally give the people of England and Wales choice at the end of their lives.

The post Public pressure grows over peers blocking assisted dying bill backed by MPs appeared first on My Death, My Decision.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill now has 1,227 proposed amendments at Committee Stage – more than any other Bill in the history of the UK Parliament. Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision highlight that many of the amendments are unworkable, repetitive, and unnecessary, and urge peers to withdraw their amendments.

An historic record

The Bill is currently in Committee Stage in the House of Lords, where peers debate but often don’t even vote on amendments. The number of amendments beats the previous record of the 2005-6 Companies Bill, which had 1,224 amendments at Committee Stage, largely due to the technical consequences of rewriting a sprawling area of law into one coherent code – lots of changes on paper, but many aimed at consolidation.

Seven peers opposed to the Bill have proposed 666 amendments:

Several amendments are unworkable, repetitious and unnecessary, including:

• Amendment 458 (Baroness Grey-Thompson), which proposes that every applicant must supply a negative pregnancy test – including men, people over 75, those infertile, etc.
• Amendments 236 (Lord Moylan) & 752 (Lord MacKinlay) which seek to prevent the NHS from being involved in any way.
• Amendments 367, 368 & 369 (Lord Goodman of Wycombe), which propose to increase the number of assessment stages from two independent doctors and a panel to five doctors and a panel, the fifth being a geriatrician. This would be impossible to navigate for a terminally ill person with fewer than six months to live.
• Amendment 15 (Baroness Coffey), which proposes excluding anyone who has left the UK in the previous twelve months, banning anyone who has been on holiday or received a six-month terminally ill prognosis while abroad.
• Amendments 4, 249, 257, 304, 337, 446, & 448 (Baroness Berger) and 5, 250, 258, 305, 338, 447, & 449 (Baroness Lawlor). These all seek to increase the age of eligibility from 18 to 25 or 21, respectively, banning a terminally ill 19-year-old.
• Amendment 890 (Lord Moylan), which proposes to introduce guidance ‘aimed at preventing any growth of an institutional culture in the medical professions and among hospital managers in favour of assisted death as a means of procuring human organs for transplant’.
• Amendments 426A & 426B (Baroness Coffey), which propose that the terminally ill person must be physically present in a court open to the public.
• Amendments 19 (Lord Rook), 20 (Baroness O’Loan), 21 (Baroness Grey-Thompson), 28, 29 (Baroness Finlay), 30B, 265A, 443A (Baroness Lawlor). These are all similar amendments that propose GP requirements that would shut terminally ill out of assisted dying.

Peers spent nearly an hour debating a group of probing amendments from Lord Frost that would change the wording of ‘assistance to end their own life’ in the Bill to ‘medical help to commit suicide by provision of lethal drugs’. These amendments add nothing to the clarity, workability or safety of the Bill and replace neutral, clinically accurate language with stigmatising terminology. 

Humanists UK and My Death My Decision have identified several instances of peers being explicitly clear that they are trying to block the Bill by means other than it being voted down. 

If the Bill does not complete all stages in the Lords by 24 April, the last sitting Friday announced, the Bill will fail. The Parliament Act can be used to bypass the House of Lords.

Dave Sowry, Board Member of My Death, My Decision, said:

‘Peers have tabled an unprecedented number of amendments, but volume is not scrutiny. Too many of these proposals are repetitive, impractical, or designed to gum up the Bill rather than improve it. If an amendment can’t work in practice, it should be withdrawn.’

‘This Bill is about giving terminally ill people choice, with strong safeguards. Amendments that pile on impossible hurdles don’t make anyone safer; they just make the law unusable for the people it is meant to help.’

Notes

Members of the MDMD team, as well as individuals affected by the current law on assisted dying, are available for interview upon request

For further comment or information, media should contact Nathan Stilwell at nathan.stilwell@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or phone 07456200033. (media only)

Media can use the following press images and videos, as long as they are attributed to “My Death, My Decision”.

My Death, My Decision is a grassroots campaign group that wants the law in England and Wales to allow mentally competent adults who are terminally ill or intolerably suffering from an incurable condition the option of a legal, safe, and compassionate assisted death. With the support of over 3,000 members and supporters, we advocate for an evidence-based law that would balance individual choice alongside robust safeguards and finally give the people of England and Wales choice at the end of their lives.

The post Assisted Dying Bill breaks record for number of amendments appeared first on My Death, My Decision.

Labour Party

The Labour manifesto did not mention assisted dying. However, the Prime Minister pledged parliamentary time for assisted dying. He made the commitment when speaking with broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen, who announced in December 2024 that she had joined the Swiss assisted dying centre Dignitas. He told her: 

‘I’m personally in favour of changing the law… I think we need to make time. We will make the commitment. Esther, I can give you that commitment right now… I will make time available if I am Prime Minister.’

During that same phone call, he was pressed if he meant during the next parliament, and he said:

‘Oh yes, definitely, and I think Esther would agree with this for people who are going through this or are likely to go through this in the next months or the next year, this matters hugely and delay just prolongs the agony’.

If the Lords filibuster the Bill such that it falls due to lack of time, then the PM’s pledge would be broken.

Conservative Party:

The Conservative manifesto stated:

‘We will maintain the position that assisted dying is a matter of conscience and will respect the will of Parliament. Debates on assisted dying should never distract from the importance of delivering high-quality palliative care services and we will continue to support children’s and adults’ hospices.’

Furthermore, Rishi Sunak, then leader of the party, pledged in February 2024 that his party would also support allowing enough parliamentary time for a meaningful debate and vote on assisted dying. 

Not only is this pledge broken by filibustering. Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision would also argue that filibustering the Assisted Dying Bill does not ‘respect the will of Parliament’.

Out of just over eight hours of debate so far in the Committee of the Whole House, Conservative peers have spoken for 40% of the time. Conservative peers have put forward more than 440 amendments.

Liberal Democrats:

The Lib Dem manifesto stated:

‘Give Parliament time to fully debate and vote on legislation on assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults with strict safeguards, subject to a free vote’

Filibustering prevents full debate.

Green Party:

The Green manifesto stated: 

‘Elected Greens will back changing the law on assisted dying. We support a humane and dignified approach to terminal illness, allowing people to choose to end their lives to avoid prolonging unnecessary suffering, if this is their clear and settled will. Proper safeguards would need to be put in place.’

Reform Party:

The Reform Party manifesto did not mention assisted dying. Two out of the four Reform Party MPs at the time of the second reading in the Commons voted for the Bill. Reform does not have members in the House of Lords.

Are members of the House of Lords filibustering?

Peers have been accused of attempting to filibuster the Bill, essentially causing the Bill to fail by proposing an unreasonable number of amendments and deliberately making unnecessary speeches in order to time it out. Analysis by Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision has shown that seven of the most vocal opponents to the Bill have put forward over 600 amendments between them. 

Last Friday, in the Committee of the Whole House, peers debated only one group, representing 21 amendments. Meanwhile, 82 new amendments were added. Our analysis suggests it would take two decades to debate all the current amendments. 

The Bill must pass all stages in the Lords and Commons before Spring 2026, or it fails. At the current rate of debate, it will not pass. 

Help us support the Assisted Dying Bill and stop the filibustering in the House of Lords. Raise the issue and send a postcard to peers today. Write to peers.

Juliette Sykes, whose husband Tim died without the option of an assisted death, said:

‘When Tim was dying, he begged for a peaceful end, but the law trapped him in unbearable suffering. Watching a handful of Peers now stall this Bill makes me furious. They may see it as politics, but for families like mine, it is personal and cruel. We have been promised a fair debate. It would be a complete failure of the Government if this falls through, and would condemn more people to die like Tim.’

Richy Thompson, Director of Public Affairs and Policy at Humanists UK, said:

‘The Assisted Dying Bill is being deliberately delayed by a small minority of peers despite clear manifesto commitments from all major parties to allow time for debate. Filibustering tactics like these not only undermine the democratic process but also go against the expressed will of the public and many elected representatives across party lines.’

Dave Sowry, Board Member of My Death, My Decision, said:

‘For those who are terminally ill and facing unbearable suffering, these delays are not just procedural; they are deeply personal. Every day that passes without progress means more people are denied the choice of a dignified end. They are watching this process unfold with hope and urgency, and they deserve more than to see their future decided by deliberate stalling.’

Notes

For further comment or information, the media should contact Nathan Stilwell at nathan@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or phone 07456 200033. (media only)

Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision have people and their loved ones who would be affected by this change available for the press.

My Death, My Decision is a grassroots campaign group that wants the law in England and Wales to allow mentally competent adults who are terminally ill or intolerably suffering from an incurable condition the option of a legal, safe, and compassionate assisted death. With the support of over 3,000 members and supporters, we advocate for an evidence-based law that would balance individual choice alongside robust safeguards and finally give the people of England and Wales choice at the end of their lives.

Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision are both members of the Assisted Dying Coalition, along with Friends at the End, Humanist Society Scotland, and End of Life Choices Jersey.

The post Assisted Dying Bill filibustering contradicts cross-party election promises appeared first on My Death, My Decision.

Coming two weeks before the Bill returns to the Commons for the next stage of legislative scrutiny, the impact reports outline the costs associated with the law and the impact on different groups, drawing from evidence in 25 other jurisdictions where assisted dying is already established.

Overall there are predicted to be cost savings for the state if the law does change – though the sums of at most tens of millions are negligible in the context of the £180 billion annual NHS spend. Regardless, the decision on whether to change the law should not be about economics, but on whether assisted dying is the right approach in principle.

Terminally ill people of sound mind who have a clear and settled wish to die are suffering enormously under the law as it stands, or else finding ways to end their lives without safeguards. This Bill will enable them to end their lives with appropriate safeguards through a proper legal framework.

Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of Humanists UK said:

‘These impact assessments are part and parcel of the scrutiny process that effective legislation requires, adding another layer to a Bill that has already seen months of thorough debate in the House of Commons at committee stage in addition to its pre-legislative development. We’re pleased to see that the Government has done such a thorough job.

‘Assisted dying isn’t untested. Legislation is already working in over 31 jurisdictions across the world, where implementation in Australia, New Zealand, the US, and Europe has shown it to be safe, compassionate, and practical. It’s time for Parliament to grant people the dignity and autonomy they deserve at the end of life.’

Claire Macdonald, Director of My Death, My Decision said:

‘These reports confirm what we have long known – that our current laws are failing dying people and that the current status quo is unacceptable. Every day we delay is another day someone is denied the choice to die with dignity, free from prolonged pain and suffering.

Assisted dying is not a fringe issue – it is a mainstream, compassionate cause backed by the majority of the public. These reports must be a catalyst for action. It’s time for Parliament to take a clear-eyed, humane look at how we care for those at the end of their lives.’

On 16 May, all MPs will have the opportunity to debate the Bill for the first time since it was strengthened considerably by its public bill committee. The impact assessments’ findings have shown that the Bill is feasible and workable, as well as overwhelmingly supported by UK citizens. 

In March, the Isle of Man became the first jurisdiction in the UK and Crown dependencies to pass an assisted dying law following a historic vote. The Bill will make assisted dying available to adult Isle of Man residents who are of sound mind, are terminally ill, have twelve months or fewer to live, and have a clear and settled wish to die.

Notes:

Members of the MDMD team, as well as individuals affected by the current law on assisted dying, are available for interview upon request

For further comment or information, media should contact Nathan Stilwell at nathan.stilwell@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or phone 07456200033.

Media can use the following press images and videos, as long as they are attributed to “My Death, My Decision”.

My Death, My Decision is a grassroots campaign group that wants the law in England and Wales to allow mentally competent adults who are terminally ill or intolerably suffering from an incurable condition the option of a legal, safe, and compassionate assisted death. With the support of over 3,000 members and supporters, we advocate for an evidence-based law that would balance individual choice alongside robust safeguards and finally give the people of England and Wales choice at the end of their lives.

The post My Death, My Decision and Humanists UK welcome Assisted Dying Bill impact assessment appeared first on My Death, My Decision.

We attended the evidence sessions at Parliament. Here are our five key takeaways from the sessions.

1. Compassion Must Be at the Heart of This Bill

The committee invited loved ones and family members of individuals directly impacted by the current law to share their stories.

A profoundly moving testimony from Pat Malone highlighted the unbearable suffering faced by dying people. Pat’s sister had motor neurone disease and travelled to Dignitas to avoid the slow and harrowing decline she knew she would face in the UK. Although relieved to get the death she deserved, Pat will never accept that she had to travel “1,000 miles from home” to do it.

“She should have died in her house with her family and her dogs on the bed. She should not have been denied that.”

We also heard from Julie. Julie and her husband were living in Spain when he was diagnosed with mesothelioma and given three months left to live, so he opted for assisted dying. “It was a very peaceful, serene and beautiful death, as opposed to what it would have been like. He was able to speak to his relatives in Australia, his brothers in Belgium and other family members, and I was able to hold his hand.”

The personal testimony moved many on the committee to tears, and we highly recommend watching it back if you can. Watch from 15:00 PM for the family testimonials.

2. Coercion Concerns Are Unfounded

Evidence from Australia and the U.S., where assisted dying laws are in place, made it clear: coercion simply doesn’t happen. Safeguards ensure decisions are made freely, and in practice, many patients face more pressure to continue treatment than to end their lives.

It was very reassuring to hear from the American and Australian doctors who work extensively on assisted dying that they have no concerns over coercion.

Dr Ryan Spielvogal, Senior Medical Director for Aid in Dying Services at Sutter Health, USA, said: “I’ll tell you in practice, it just doesn’t happen. I have helped many people through this process in many states, and I have never seen a case of even suspected coercion. People just aren’t that good at acting.”

3. Doctors Should Not Be Gagged

Medical professionals shared concerns about the current restrictions on discussing assisted dying with patients. In countries with legal frameworks, open conversations improve end-of-life care, giving patients all available options rather than forcing them to seek information elsewhere and make lonely decisions.

When asked about a potential ‘gag clause’ that would prevent doctors from talking about assisted dying to patients, Dr Mulholland, Honorary Secretary at Royal College of General Practitioners, said: “We are very protective of our relationship as GPs, and want to give patients the options that they might want to choose for themselves. We are not pushing anyone to make any decisions, but supporting them through their end-of-life journey. We would want to protect that in whatever way, so we feel that a service we can signpost to would be the most appropriate as the next step.”

4. Eligibility Should Be Altered

Experts testified that the six-month prognosis requirement is too rigid. Many terminal illnesses do not follow a predictable timeline, and eligibility should focus on intolerable suffering rather than an arbitrary timeframe.

Dr Cam McLaren, a Medical Oncologist from southeast Melbourne, recommended to MPs that they “increase the eligibility criteria for an assisted death from six months to twelve” and remove unnecessary waiting periods.

Sir Nicholas Mostyn said that an arbitrary 6-month prognosis will unfairly discriminate against those with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s: “I do believe very strongly—and this is not an expansion but a more appropriate focus or redefinition of terminal illness—that it should be focused on suffering.”

5. The High Court Requirement Is Unnecessary

Several legal experts expressed doubts about the need for High Court approval. Existing models in other countries show that robust safeguards can be upheld without adding unnecessary legal hurdles that could delay access to assisted dying for those in need.

Claire Williams, Head of Pharmacovigilance and Regulatory Services, advocated for the Bill to move away from a High Court judge, instead having a multidisciplinary panel. “It is having that collective view, ensuring that everybody is happy and that it is exactly what the patient wants. I believe it should be a committee/panel-based approach for the final decision.”

We welcome any efforts to remove unnecessary barriers to compassion for individuals at the end of their lives.

For further comment or information, media should contact Nathan Stilwell at nathan.stilwell@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or phone 07456200033.

Media can use the following press images and videos, as long as they are attributed to “My Death, My Decision”.

My Death, My Decision is a grassroots campaign group that wants the law in England and Wales to allow mentally competent adults who are terminally ill or intolerably suffering from an incurable condition the option of a legal, safe, and compassionate assisted death. With the support of over 3,000 members and supporters, we advocate for an evidence-based law that would balance individual choice alongside robust safeguards and finally give the people of England and Wales choice at the end of their lives.

The post Assisted Dying Committee Evidence Sessions Roundup appeared first on My Death, My Decision.

My Death, My Decision has expanded their team by hiring former MP and Government Minister, Dehenna Davison, to bolster their campaign for a compassionate assisted dying law.

With the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill progressing through Parliament, My Death, My Decision is advocating for vital enhancements to ensure the Bill remains both safe and compassionate. Dehenna Davison will play a pivotal role in supporting these efforts.

Whilst a Member of Parliament, Dehenna successfully lobbied for changes to victim support for families touched by one punch manslaughter, as well as for improved healthcare for those living with both lobular breast cancer and with migraine. 

Trevor Moore, Chair of My Death, My Decision, said:

‘We are delighted to have Dehenna join our team, bringing her extensive experience of Parliament and advocacy campaigns to My Death, My Decision, as we move to propose enhancements to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in the remaining Parliamentary stages. With Dehenna’s help, underpinned by legal and medical expertise, we will work with MPs to ensure the law passed is safe, compassionate and workable.”

Dehenna Davison said:

 “My drive to enter politics has always been about fostering positive change. I am excited to continue this mission with My Death, My Decision, advocating for improvements to assisted dying laws that serve those in need. Parliament faces challenging decisions on this in the months ahead, and I look forward to supporting MPs to ensure the Bill incorporates strong safeguards while respecting individual choice.”

Notes:

Members of the MDMD team, as well as individuals affected by the current law on assisted dying, are available for interview upon request.

For further comment or information, media should contact Nathan Stilwell at nathan.stilwell@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or phone 07456200033.

My Death, My Decision is a grassroots campaign group that wants the law in England and Wales to allow mentally competent adults who are terminally ill or intolerably suffering from an incurable condition the option of a legal, safe, and compassionate assisted death. With the support of over 3,000 members and supporters, we advocate for an evidence-based law that would balance individual choice alongside robust safeguards and finally give the people of England and Wales choice at the end of their lives.

The post Former MP joins campaign for a compassionate assisted dying law appeared first on My Death, My Decision.

Photo credit: Kerry Hogan/My Death, My Decision

The Assisted Dying Bill has passed its first major vote in Parliament, called the Second Reading. This means MPs have agreed to the general idea of the Bill, with 330 votes in favour and 275 against. The next steps involve carefully checking all the details and deciding if anything needs to be changed. Here’s a simple guide to what happens next:

Key Dates to Remember

• December 2024: A small group of MPs will start examining the Bill in detail during something called the Committee Stage.
• Mid-April 2025: The Committee must finish its work by this time so the Bill can move forward.
• 25 April 2025: All MPs will look at the Bill again and vote on any changes during the Report Stage.
• May–July 2025: The Bill will be examined by the House of Lords
• 11 July 2025: This is the final deadline for everything to be agreed for the Bill to become law.

What Happens Next?

Step 1: Committee Stage

• The Bill now goes to a smaller group of MPs, chosen to reflect a mix of opinions from Parliament. This group is called the Public Bill Committee.
• The Committee will go through the Bill line by line, checking it carefully, fixing any problems, and suggesting improvements. These suggestions are called amendments.
• To help them make decisions, the Committee might ask for evidence. This could include:
  • Inviting experts (like doctors, legal professionals, or campaigners) to share their opinions in person.
  • Asking organisations or individuals to send in written evidence, which is a way of explaining their views.
• If the Committee decides to ask for evidence, they will explain how people can send their views and set a deadline for submissions.
• Once this is finished it will move on to the Report Stage

Step 2: Report Stage

• At this stage, all MPs—not just the ones on the Committee—can suggest changes. These changes will be debated, and MPs will vote on whether to accept them.
• The Speaker of the House, who is in charge of keeping debates organised and fair, will decide which changes get discussed.
• The Speaker may choose to group some of the changes together, to help keep the time and make it easier for MPs to vote on it.

Step 3: Third Reading

• After the Report Stage, MPs will have a final chance to debate and vote on the whole Bill, including any changes that have been made. This is called the Third Reading.
• MPs could vote against this at the third reading – which would stop the Bill altogether.

Step 4: The House of Lords

• If the Bill is approved by MPs, it will move to the House of Lords. The Lords are not elected like MPs but include experts and experienced figures from different areas of life.
• The Lords will go through a similar process: debating the Bill, suggesting changes, and voting.
• If the Lords make changes, the Bill will go back to the Commons for MPs to decide if they agree. 

Other Steps That Need to Happen

Money Resolution

• The Bill will need approval for any costs it creates, such as funding for the NHS or the courts. This is called a money resolution, and it is essential for the Bill to continue.
• Only the Government can put forward a money resolution, and delays could slow down the Bill’s progress.
• This should happen fairly quickly, and will include a shorter debate of up to 45 minutes.

Technical Changes

• The Government might suggest small changes to make sure the Bill fits properly with existing laws. These changes usually happen during the Committee Stage to avoid causing delays later.

Discussions with Wales

• Because health policy is managed separately in Wales, the UK Government will need to talk to Welsh leaders about how the Bill will work there. The Welsh Parliament has already raised concerns about the idea of assisted dying, which could lead to disagreements.

Frequently Asked Questions?

Why is there so much emphasis on time and deadlines?

• This is a private members bill – which is where an individual politician brings forward a change in the law. Because it’s not the government trying to change the law there are extra rules – some previous attempts to change the law have failed because they’ve not had enough time to get through all the stages.

Does the recent vote mean I can have an assisted death now?

• No. The 2nd reading vote that happened on the 29th November was just about the general idea of the Bill. It needs to pass all the stages outlined above first. Even after it passes all those stages, there will be an implementation period first of up to two years.

Who will be able to have an assisted death if this passes?

• Right now, the Bill is only for people who have six months left or fewer, and the person will need the sign off of two doctors and a high court judge. 

The post What’s Happening Next with the Assisted Dying Bill? appeared first on My Death, My Decision.

Source: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/church-of-england-priests-survey-gay-conversion-therapy-ban-assisted-dying-house-of-lords-net-zero-7kqg3dswr

Support for assisted dying among Church of England priests has grown significantly in the last nine years. Over a third of priests would support assisted dying for someone with an incurable disease.

My Death, My Decision hopes this revelation might help to foster a safe and open debate amongst the Church of England clergy on this vital issue, especially as Scotland, Jersey and the Isle of Man come increasingly closer to creating compassionate assisted dying legislation.

A recent survey by the Times of 1,185 Church of England priests conducted this month found that 35.5% of priests supported a compassionate assisted dying law, compared to 22% in 2014. While a majority do not want assisted dying legalised, opposition has dropped 15%, from 70% to 55%.

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey of Clifton described assisted dying as “profoundly Christian to do all we can to ensure nobody suffers against their wishes”. He told The Times: “Opinion is beginning to change as more and more clergy encounter those increasingly difficult experiences of terminal illness where even the best medical care leaves patients living their last days and hours in unconscionable agony and indignity.”

My Death, My Decision’s patron Reverend Canon Rosie Harper says: “The dignity and the compassion that every dying person is owed is still not available to us in this country. I long for [the law] to change and I hope that My Death, My Decision will be part of a wave of people, as most of the people in this country want it to change.”

A 2019 assisted dying poll by Populus found that 86% of people deemed regular churchgoers would support assisted dying under some circumstances. 82% of people who identified as Christian would support a change in the law.

Trevor Moore, Chair of My Death, My Decision said:

“We know the majority of people in the pews support a compassionate, safe assisted dying law and it’s refreshing to see opinions at the pulpit slowly catching up. There is nothing Christian about forcing incurably sick people to have long, painful undignified deaths.

My Death, My Decision welcomes this wave of support shown by The Times survey, and we are glad to see opposition to assisted dying fall considerably too. People deserve to make decisions about their lives and ultimately their deaths. It is time Parliament legislates on this important issue.”

Notes:

Members of the MDMD team, as well as individuals affected by the current law on assisted dying, are available for interview upon request

For further comment or information, media should contact Nathan Stilwell at nathan.stilwell@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or phone 07456200033.

My Death, My Decision is a grassroots campaign group that wants the law in England and Wales to allow those who are terminally ill or intolerably suffering the option of a legal, safe, and compassionate assisted death. With the support of over 3,000 members and supporters, we advocate for an evidence-based law that would balance individual choice alongside robust safeguards and finally give the people of England and Wales choice at the end of their lives.

Read more about our work with the Assisted Dying Inquiry: https://www.mydeath-mydecision.org.uk/2023/07/13/our-summary-the-assisted-dying-inquiry/ 

The post Over a third of Church of England priests support assisted dying appeared first on My Death, My Decision.

Luley told the inquiry: “If you legalise assisted dying, it will improve conversations with patients, make it transparent, public, clear and make it possible to do research. Doctors will feel safe, people will feel safe.”

When questioned if assisted dying is at odds with palliative care, Luley replied that most Brits that visit DIGNITAS are grateful for the UK’s excellent provision of palliative care, but they say “I want to have my choice”. He added: “That’s the crucial point. It’s about choice.”

Switzerland has allowed assisted dying since 1942, as long as the motives are not selfish. It is one of the few countries in the world that does not have a residence clause, meaning citizens of other countries are allowed to have an assisted death. The number of British people who are members of DIGNITAS has soared by more than 80% in the past decade.

Dr Georg Bosshard, a practising geriatrician in Switzerland, said that Swiss people would find the UK’s blanket ban on assisted dying ‘unthinkable’. He added: “We should have varieties of possibilities for having a good death – we should have a society that meets the needs of different people and the wishes of a wide variety of people.”

Samia Hurst-Majno, Professor of Biomedical Ethics, warned the committee of both under-regulation but also overregulation of assisted dying. She added that “It’s an illusion that banning assisted dying protects vulnerable people.”

My Death, My Decision would welcome an assisted dying law in the UK that grants mentally capable adults the option of an assisted death if they are enduring unbearable suffering from an incurable physical condition.

Claire Macdonald, Director of My Death, My Decision, said:

“We must stop exiling Brits who are dying and suffering from incurable diseases to Switzerland. We must stop exporting compassion and let people have a choice at the end of their lives. 

The evidence the committee heard today was overwhelming. In Switzerland, assisted dying has been working for over 80 years, the system is safe, workable and gives people back their human rights.”

Notes:

Members of the MDMD team, as well as individuals affected by the current law on assisted dying, are available for interview upon request

For further comment or information, media should contact Nathan Stilwell at nathan.stilwell@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or phone 07456200033.

My Death, My Decision is a grassroots campaign group that wants the law in England and Wales to allow those who are terminally ill or intolerably suffering the option of a legal, safe, and compassionate assisted death. With the support of over 3,000 members, we advocate for an evidence-based law that would balance individual choice alongside robust safeguards and finally give the people of England and Wales choice at the end of their lives.

Read more about our work with the Assisted Dying Inquiry: https://www.mydeath-mydecision.org.uk/2023/05/15/assisted-dying-inquiry-health-and-social-care-committee-takes-next-steps/ 

Watch the evidence session here: https://committees.parliament.uk/event/18436/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/ 

The post DIGNITAS: “It’s about time” the UK changes law on assisted dying appeared first on My Death, My Decision.

A majority of Surgeons support assisted dying, according to figures from a survey of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. 61% of respondents to the survey said they personally support a change in the law. 29% said they were opposed and 10% undecided.

This has led the Royal College of Surgeons to end their opposition to assisted dying. 

52% said the Royal College of Surgeons should be supportive of a change in the law to permit assisted dying. 20% said the College should take a neutral position on the provision of assisted dying for mentally competent, terminally ill adults.

In relation to the role of doctors in any future assisted dying process, 59% felt doctors should be involved in confirming a patient meets the eligibility criteria; 42% thought doctors should prescribe the drugs and 23% thought that doctors should be present while patients self-administer the drugs.

Following the survey, the Council voted to adopt a neutral position on the issue. 

The British Medical Association ended its opposition and moved to a neutral position on assisted dying in 2021. This reflects the position of similar medical bodies including the Royal Colleges of Physicians, Medicine, Nursing and Psychiatrists.

Trevor Moore, Chair of My Death, My Decision, said:

“Medical professionals are increasingly coming to the conclusion that assisted dying should be legalised in the UK. The Health and Social Care Committee must surely give due weight to this in their conclusions following the current inquiry into assisted dying.

The public support change, doctors across the spectrum support change – now politicians need to step up and give people who are incurably suffering or terminally ill the right to take control over their own bodies and, ultimately, their own deaths.”

Notes:

Members of the MDMD team, as well as individuals affected by the current law on assisted dying, are available for interview upon request

Read the survey here: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/about-the-rcs/government-relations-and-consultation/position-statements-and-reports/assisted-dying/ 

For further comment or information, media should contact Nathan Stilwell at nathan.stilwell@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or phone 07456200033.

My Death, My Decision is a grassroots campaign group that wants the law in England and Wales to allow those who are terminally ill or intolerably suffering the option of a legal, safe, and compassionate assisted death. With the support of over 3,000 members, we advocate for an evidence-based law that would balance individual choice alongside robust safeguards and finally give the people of England and Wales choice at the end of their lives.

Read more about our work with the Assisted Dying Inquiry: https://www.mydeath-mydecision.org.uk/2023/05/15/assisted-dying-inquiry-health-and-social-care-committee-takes-next-steps/ 

The post Dominoes are falling: Majority of surgeons support assisted dying. appeared first on My Death, My Decision.