MPs are set to debate the Assisted Dying Bill in the House of Commons for the first time since significant changes were made, marking a pivotal moment in the push to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales.
The bill, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, initially passed its first reading in November 2024 by a narrow vote of 330 to 275. Since then, it has undergone six months of detailed parliamentary scrutiny, resulting in dozens of amendments. These include the removal of a requirement for High Court approval for each assisted death request, replacing it with oversight from a multidisciplinary expert panel. Another key amendment bars doctors from discussing assisted dying with under-18s unless the patient initiates the conversation.
Friday’s debate will not include a final vote, which is expected in June. The delay comes amid criticism of the process, including from MPs opposed to the bill who describe it as “chaotic.” Concerns intensified after the government quietly revised its official impact assessment, lowering its upper estimate for the number of assisted deaths in the first year from 787 to 647 due to calculation errors.
Despite the controversy, Leadbeater maintains that the bill is now “even stronger.” She urged fellow MPs to “grasp this opportunity with both hands,” arguing that the current law fails dying people and their loved ones.
Opponents, however, remain vocal. Labour MP Melanie Ward, who previously voted against the bill, cited the last-minute amendments and revised data as evidence that “MPs can’t really know what they are being asked to vote on.” Independent peer and Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson echoed this, criticising the timing of the revised impact report and raising concerns about potential further errors.
Meanwhile, newly elected Reform MP Sarah Pochin has declared her support for the bill, stating she is confident in the proposed safeguards. Broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen, who is terminally ill, has also been a strong advocate, accusing opponents of masking religious objections as practical concerns—a claim which Labour MP Jess Asato called “disrespectful.”
Professional medical bodies remain divided. A BBC survey found that half of 1,000 GPs surveyed oppose legalising assisted dying, while 400 are in support. The Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Psychiatrists have raised serious concerns about the bill’s safeguards, though both remain neutral on the principle of assisted dying.
If passed, the bill would represent a historic shift in the legal and ethical landscape of end-of-life care in England and Wales, where it is currently illegal for medics to assist in a patient’s death. The outcome of the final vote, now expected on or after 13 June, could reshape how society supports those facing terminal illness.
Written By Rodney Mbua
