Lords reflect on assisted dying in emotionally-charged debate

We can live better”, claimed Baroness Meacher as the House of Lords began its second reading of her private member’s bill on assisted dying. The chair of Dignity in Dying said the absence of a legal way to end one’s life, “turns compassionate friends and family into criminals and causes thousands of dying people to […]

Assisted dying is not just an issue of autonomy

Today the Assisted Dying Bill comes before the House of Lords for its Second Reading. It seeks to repeal the long-established crime of assisted suicide in certain medical and personal circumstances where the patient requests this, there is agreement of two doctors, and confirmation by the High Court through its Family Division. This is a […]

Lords to debate private member’s Bill on assisted dying

This morning the House of Lords will begin its second reading of Lady Meacher’s private member’s bill on assisted dying. The bill, first introduced to the Lords in May, aims to enable adults who are terminally ill to be provided at their request with specified assistance to end their own life. The issue of assisted […]

Euthanasia: ‘Deeply disturbing’ or an ‘act of compassion’?

With Spain recently deciding to legalise euthanasia, also called assisted-dying, some in the UK have been asking for similar laws to be brought in here. Opponents of euthanasia have called this a “deeply disturbing” trend, while supporters have claimed it is an “act of compassion” that allows people to choose their own fate. While the […]

Assisted suicide ‘is the abandonment of care’

Recent calls for a parliamentary review of assisted suicide prematurely presume that the winds of political and social change are blowing in favour of legalisation. Through heavy focus on hard cases and hardly any coverage of the life-giving merits of palliative care, some proponents of change in Parliament have grandly overstated the problems with the status […]

Comment: MPs don’t need to change the law on assisted suicide

Many will be thankful the ban on assisted suicide remains while being sympathetic to the tragic, difficult circumstances of those who are desperate for death and often, but not always, very ill.

Right-to-die appeal dismissed by judges

Supreme court judges have dismissed a bid to effectively make euthanasia legal in the UK, after months of deliberating behind the scenes.

Right-to-die campaigners are wasting their time

Parliament is deeply sceptical about changing the law – and might even legislate against euthanasia it if it had to.

Locked-in syndrome sufferer dies days after losing euthanasia case

Tony Nicklinson, the man who lost his right-to-die court bid last week, has passed away.

Analysis: Britain’s options for legalising euthanasia

MPs will have to tread carefully if they decide to make assisted dying legal in Britain.