Attempts to alter the legislation regarding assisted dying faced a setback today as members of the House of Lords delayed the progress of the bill until the end of the current Parliamentary session. The House of Lords concluded its final discussion on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which will not be enacted in England and Wales before the session ends next week.
Supporters of the bill will seek to reintroduce it in the upcoming session following the King’s Speech on May 13. However, they are likely to encounter challenges as the bill, originating from a backbench member, does not have a guaranteed slot in the parliamentary schedule.
Assisted dying is prohibited in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, carrying a potential jail term of up to 14 years. In Scotland, while not explicitly illegal, assisting in someone’s death can result in charges of murder or other offenses.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill aims to permit terminally ill adults in England and Wales, with less than six months to live, to request an assisted death, subject to approval from two doctors and a panel comprising a social worker, senior legal expert, and psychiatrist.
Initially proposed as a private members bill in October 2024 by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, the bill passed the Commons last summer by a narrow margin. However, during the recent scrutiny in the House of Lords, over 1,000 amendments were proposed, setting a record for a backbench bill.
Unlike government-introduced legislation, backbench bills like this one have faced more opposition from peers. Supporters of the bill have accused opponents of deliberately stalling its progress, while critics argue that the bill lacks adequate safeguards and has been rushed through without thorough consideration.
With the Parliament expected to adjourn before the King’s Speech on May 13, the future of the bill remains uncertain. The Government has maintained a neutral stance on assisted dying, considering it a matter of conscience. The possibility of invoking the Parliament Act to bypass peer objections has been suggested, although this is a rare occurrence in parliamentary procedure.