More than 100 Members of Parliament have signed a letter calling on the government to introduce a new law on assisted dying. The cross-party group argues that the current legislation is outdated and fails to provide dignity and choice for terminally ill people.
Cross-party support for change
The letter, coordinated by the campaign group Dignity in Dying, has been signed by MPs from Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, and other parties. It urges the government to allocate parliamentary time for a debate and vote on the issue.
Among the signatories are prominent figures including Labour's Harriet Harman and Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith. The MPs argue that the current ban on assisted dying forces terminally ill people to suffer unnecessarily or seek illegal options abroad.
Key arguments for the new law
- Dignity and choice: The proposed law would allow mentally competent, terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less to request medical assistance to end their lives.
- Safeguards: The legislation would include strict safeguards, such as two independent doctors confirming the diagnosis and a cooling-off period.
- Public support: Polls consistently show that a majority of the British public supports a change in the law.
Opposition and concerns
However, the proposal has faced opposition from some religious groups, disability rights activists, and medical professionals. They argue that legalising assisted dying could put vulnerable people at risk of coercion and undermine trust in healthcare.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has adopted a neutral stance, while the Royal College of Physicians remains opposed. The government has not yet indicated whether it will support the call for a debate.
Next steps
The letter comes ahead of a private member's bill on assisted dying, which is expected to be introduced later this year. Campaigners hope that the show of cross-party support will increase pressure on the government to act.
If passed, the UK would join a growing number of countries, including Canada, Australia, and several US states, that have legalised some form of assisted dying.
