A proposed law to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales could mean terminally ill adults will be able to end their own life from next month.
Under plans unveiled last night people diagnosed with a life-limiting disease who have less than six months to live would be permitted to obtain and administer lethal medicines that would trigger instant death.
However, the new law would not be applicable to people with physical disabilities and mental ill health.
MPs will be debating and voting on the bill — called the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill — on 29 November.
But not everyone who is terminally ill will be able to make this decision — patients will have to meet a list of requirements.
According to the bill, the patient must be a resident of England and Wales and have been registered with a GP for at least one year. They must also be terminal and expected to die within the next six months.
Patients must have the mental capacity to make the choice free from coercion or pressure. They must also make two separate declarations about their wish to die, both witnessed and signed.
Two independent doctors must also then be satisfied the person is eligible, with at least seven days between each doctor’s assessments.
MPs will be debating and voting on the bill — called the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill — on 29 November
The case would then be referred to a High Court judge who would hear from at least one of the doctors, and can also question the dying person.
After this, patients must wait a further 14 days following the judge’s ruling before going ahead with their decision, making the expected wait between their medical assessment to ending their life about three weeks.
However, doctors would not be under any obligation to take part in the assisted dying process.
While a doctor is allowed to prepare the substance used to end the patient’s life, only the patient can administer it.
The bill would make it illegal to use ‘dishonesty, coercion or pressure’ to make a terminal patient say they want help dying.
It will also become an offence to force someone to take the lethal dose of medication that is supplied for approved applications, with prison sentences of up to 14 years for those convicted.
Currently, assisted suicide is banned in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, also holding a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
While in Scotland it is not a criminal offence, helping someone die can leave a person open to being charged with murder or other offences.
Supporters of the proposed new law have been setting out the safeguards that would be put in place ahead of a debate and vote in the House of Commons at the end of the month.
Kim Leadbeater, the Labour backbencher who is introducing it, warned last night that MPs might have to wait another decade for a law change if they fail to pass it now.
The vote is seen as close, with some senior cabinet ministers — including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, saying they plan to vote against it.
Critics say the bill is being rushed through without enough scrutiny and does not contain enough safeguards against abuse.
