Euthanasia, or ‘Assisted Dying’ as it’s now being called, is back in the news again as Kim Leadbeater MP, who came top of the ballot for Private Members’ Bills, has said she will introduce an AD Bill on 16th October.
It has been reported that before the General Election Kier Starmer promised Esther Rantzen a Commons vote on AD. Not sure why he didn’t put that in the Labour Manifesto, but that’s the trouble with representative democracy. You vote in a government and then you have to hope they will carry out what they have promised and not do all manner of things they not only did not promise but actually said they wouldn’t do (WFA anyone?).
Much has been made of the fact that MPs last voted on AD nine years ago, in 2015. True so far as it goes, but an example of lying by omission. Here’s what actually happened over the last 21 years:
- Lord Joffe’s Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill was introduced in Session 2002–03. It had its second reading in June 2003.
2 & 3. Lord Joffe’s Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill was introduced in Session 2003–04. A Select Committee was appointed to look at aspects of the Bill. The Bill lapsed when the 2003–04 session ended and was reintroduced in the 2004–05 session and the Select Committee reappointed.
- In 2009 Lord Falconer introduced an amendment to the Bill which became the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, aimed at removing the threat of prosecution for assisting a terminally ill individual to travel abroad to a place where assisted suicide was lawful if two doctors independently certified that the individual was terminally ill and had the capacity to make the decision to end their life by travelling to the country. The amendment was defeated by 194 votes to 141.
5, 6, 7, & 8. Lord Falconer introduced Assisted Dying Bills in the 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, and 2019–21 sessions.
- Rob Marris MP’s Assisted Dying (No. 2) Bill was introduced in the Commons in session 2015–16. It was defeated on division at second reading by 330 votes to 118.
- Lord Hayward introduced an Assisted Dying Bill in session 2016–17. It never had a second reading.
- In the 2021–22 session, Lord Forsyth tabled an amendment to the Health and Care Act during Committee stage. The amendment would have required the Government to introduce a Bill within twelve months that would permit terminally ill, mentally competent adults to end their own lives with medical assistance. The amendment was not moved.
- Baroness Meacher introduced an Assisted Dying Bill in the 2021–22 session. It sought to allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults to have the option to accelerate their deaths with medical assistance. It was based on existing laws in Oregon. This Bill received a second reading on 22 October 2021 but did not progress further before the parliamentary session ended.
- A debate in the House of Commons on AD/AS took place in Westminster Hall on 4 July 2022 during a general debate on e-petition 604383, a petition which called for the Government to “bring forward legislation to allow assisted dying for adults who are terminally ill and have mental capacity.”
- In September 2024 Lord Falconer introduced a Bill on Assisted Dying into the House of Lords.
- In October 2024 Kim Leadbeater MP introduced a Private Members’ Bill on Assisted Dying into the House of Commons.
So in the past 21 years, AD has been the topic of debate at Westminster no less than fifteen times, with at least six of those courtesy of Lord Falconer for whom it seems to be a rather bizarre hobby.
AD is a complex and emotive issue, with people holding entrenched views on both sides of the argument. But let no-one tell you that it has been neglected, it has rather been debated to death over the years.
It is as if the proponents of AD feel they should keep going until one of their Bills gets over the finishing line, where-upon there will no need for further debate, the matter will be ‘settled’.
The bandwagon is gathering speed…
© Jim Walshe 2024
