Assisted dying timeline extended to maximum of four years as Committee passes Bill

MPs on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Committee have tonight [25 March] passed the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, with extensive amendments, many of which have strengthened the Bill considerably. However, right at the end of all the debates, MPs voted to change the maximum time the Government can spend to implement assisted dying from two years to four. No other jurisdiction in the world has taken four years to implement an assisted dying bill. Humanists UK has welcomed the Committee’s work, though it expressed dismay at the likely delay in implementation.

Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented:

‘We welcome the work of the Terminally Ill Adults Bill Committee, which has made many considerable improvements to the Bill. This includes replacing the High Court in the Bill with expert panels. However, we regret the decision to change the implementation deadline from two years to four.

‘Many other countries already have safe assisted dying laws and none of them has taken more than 19 months to implement them, apart from one that was subject to a court challenge. So it really shouldn’t have to take four years for the one here. If it does, people who need this change in law will continue to die in ways not of their choosing.’

Approved proposals in Jersey include an implementation period of 18 months, and while not on the face of the Bill, it has been reported that legislation in the Isle of Man that passed today (Tuesday) will likely be implemented in less than 18 months. Tom Gordon MP spoke against the move to four years in England and Wales, sharing his own family’s experience of wanting  – and, unfortunately, possibly needing – the Bill sooner than now looks like it may be available.

The Bill will now move onto its next stage, Report Stage – a debate before the whole House of Commons where it faces further amendments. This is expected to take place on 25 February.