An initiative to legalize assisted dying in England and Waleswas presented in the UK parliament. The proposal sparked concerns among religious leaders and opponents about the possible repercussions.
The bill of terminally ill adultsproposed by Labor MP Kim Leadbeater, will allow lawmakers in the House of Commons to vote freely and consciously, without partisan pressure.
Although the authorities did not provide details, it was revealed that the measure establishes that a patient’s wish to die must receive the approval of a judge and two doctors. Furthermore, it will only apply to those people with a life prognosis of six to 12 months.
Faced with the change in law, voices for and against They were heard outside Parliament, recalling a similar project debated in 2015 which was rejected.
Among the testimonies, Anil Douglas, who lost his father, stated that an assisted dying law would have offered “security” and “dignity” at the end of his life.
Assisted suicide is currently illegal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with up to 14 years in prison. This time around, the project faces strong opposition from various disability rights groups and religious figures such as Cardinal Vincent Nichols and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
AE