Vote on assisted suicide looms – ‘A disaster in waiting’

Laws allowing for assisted suicide in England and Wales look increasingly likely, with Parliament expected to have a free vote on the issue within weeks. Meanwhile, the Scottish Government says the Scottish Parliament lacks power to pass assisted dying legislation in its current form.

A Private Member’s bill introduced mid-October by Labour MP Kim Leadbetter is to be debated in November. Lord Falconer’s Assisted Dying Bill introduced in the Lords in July is also due to have its second reading.

Campaign group Right to Life described assisted suicide legislation as a ‘disaster in waiting’, pointing out that no major UK disability groups or doctors’ groups support it. A survey of palliative care doctors found that 83% opposed assisted suicide laws.