Campaigners in West Midlands welcome Assisted Dying Bill going before Parliament today
The Assisted Dying Bill will formally be introduced to Parliament today.
Last updated 16th Oct 2024
The assisted dying debate is returning to Parliament as the new bill is officially introduced in the House of Commons.
Today marks the first time the controversial debate will be put to a vote in the Commons in nearly a decade.
Pro-change campaigners say assisted dying allows a person to have a choice in controlling their death if their suffering is unbearable.
My Death, My Decision, is a campaign group in favour of assisted dying in the West Midlands.
Campaigner, Trevor Moore, believes changing social opinions will influence the debate within Parliament: ‘We are confident that public opinion has changed, medical opinion has changed.
‘We are confident that MPs will see that this is the socially just thing to do’
Mr Moore began campaigning for assisted dying after his mother-in-law suffered from a terminal illness: ‘My mother-in-law had the most horrible, prolonged death. She ended up in bed unable to move herself.
‘She was a highly resourceful woman reduced to needing all of her bodily needs met.’
Mr Moore continued to say that assisted dying can improve the quality of life for those suffering as they are provided with a choice: ‘I'm allowed to refuse that next round of chemotherapy. Why shouldn't I be allowed to ask for medical help to end my life?’
Whilst campaign groups advocate the importance of assisted suicide, public opinion varies.
Recent polls found a fifth (20%) of people said they do not want assisted dying to be legalised in the next five years, while 63% said they do.
Under current legislation assisted suicide is banned in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
In Scotland, however, it is not a specific criminal offence but assisted suicide can lead to a person being charged with murder or other offences.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had said he was “committed” to allowing a vote on legalising assisted dying should his party win the general election, and now one of his MPs is bringing forward a bill.
Today, MP Kim Leadbeater will formally introduce her bill to give choice at the end of life for the terminally ill.
A debate and first vote are expected to take place on November 29th.