Assisted suicide bill introduced to Parliament

Lord Falconer introduced a bill to the House of Lords on Friday that will allow terminally unwell adults with six months or fewer to receive medical assistance in ending their lives. 

It is the primary reading for his Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill.

Within the provisions of the private members’ bill, assisted suicide would require approval by two doctors and the high court.

This variety of bill rarely becomes law but Lord Falconcer, a former Labour Justice Secretary, said he was hopeful an identical bill can be introduced to the Commons where it has more probability of passing. 

The last time the House of Commons debated assisted suicide was in 2015 when it was defeated by a large margin of 333 against, to 118 in favour. 

The years since have seen continued pressure towards a change within the law, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has promised to permit time for a debate on the problem. 

Lord Falconer has introduced laws to vary the law on assisted suicide six times previously. His last attempt was in 2022 with an amendment to the Health and Care Bill within the House of Lords which was defeated by 179 votes to 145.

Pro-life group Right to Life UK is urging MPs to retain the established order. 

Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said: “Lord Falconer’s assisted suicide bill will probably be his seventh parliamentary try and change the law on assisted suicide since 2009. That’s almost once every two years for the past 15 years.

“Both Houses of Parliament have consistently rejected his proposed changes to assisted suicide laws.

“Examples of assisted suicide in motion in other jurisdictions should proceed to operate as a dire warning to our elected representatives who should proceed to reject Lord Falconer’s proposals.”