Peers in the House of Lords are calling for more time to debate a bill that would legalize assisted dying in England and Wales. The legislation, which has already been approved by the House of Commons, proposes allowing terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a panel.
The bill is progressing slowly through the House of Lords due to an unprecedented number of over 900 proposed amendments, which supporters claim are a tactic to delay its passage. Opponents, however, argue that these changes are necessary to ensure the protection of vulnerable individuals and the safe operation of any such scheme.
During a recent debate, peers spent almost five hours examining proposed changes but only managed to discuss seven out of the more than 900 amendments. This has led several peers to voice concerns that the allotted four days for the committee stage are insufficient for the detailed scrutiny required.
Some supporters fear the bill could be "talked out" and run out of time before the parliamentary session ends next spring, making it crucial for both Houses to agree on the final wording. While the government has indicated it will not allocate additional parliamentary time to this private member's bill, there is a possibility that more sessions could be made available if needed, and sources close to the bill express confidence that it will receive the necessary time.
Meanwhile, those opposing the bill assert that a thorough debate is essential to scrutinize significant issues, including devolution and mental capacity implications, ensuring the legislation is safe and workable. If the bill becomes law, the government would have four years to establish an assisted dying service, potentially meaning the first assisted death could occur around 2030.
