
A landmark bill to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales has been introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. Supported by all four Green MPs, the bill offers terminally ill individuals the choice to end their lives in a controlled, safeguarded manner. Those eligible would need to be adults with terminal diagnoses expected to live no more than six months. Their decisions must be verified as voluntary by two independent doctors and a High Court judge. The bill aims to establish “the strictest safeguards anywhere in the world,” according to Leadbeater.
While current UK laws prohibit medical assistance for those seeking to end their lives, this proposed legislation would allow terminally ill adults to self-administer life-ending medication under specific criteria. The eligibility requirements mandate that individuals be over 18, have been residents in England and Wales, registered with a GP for at least a year, and possess the mental capacity to make an informed, pressure-free choice.
A critical aspect of the bill is its protection against coercion, with Leadbeater’s safeguards involving High Court oversight and independent verification. No doctor would be compelled to participate in the process, and no one would be allowed to end another person’s life directly. In fact, individuals would only be allowed to self-administer a medication that a doctor might prepare under the bill’s provisions.
While the bill has seen support, it has also faced considerable opposition. Some critics argue it could put psychological pressure on the terminally ill, especially in a system where palliative care remains inconsistent. Conservative MP Danny Kruger voiced concerns that the bill could inadvertently lead to “rubber-stamping” by judges and doctors. In contrast, Leadbeater maintains that the current system leaves many terminally ill people facing painful, undignified deaths.
If the bill advances after an initial Commons vote on 29 November, it will face further scrutiny, and MPs could propose amendments. The government, meanwhile, has adopted a neutral position on the matter, allowing MPs from all parties a free vote. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has also confirmed that Labour MPs will have the freedom to vote as they see fit, acknowledging the need for “proper safeguards.”
Elsewhere in the UK, Scotland is considering its own assisted dying bill, led by a Liberal Democrat MSP, which is expected to be debated later this autumn. Notable advocates, including broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen, have voiced strong support, with Rantzen urging a change to prevent “agonising deaths” for the terminally ill. For many advocates, the bill represents a long-awaited choice for those at the end of their lives, providing a route to avoid drawn-out, painful deaths.