Kim Leadbeater is right to rethink assisted dying – but will MPs?
1 month, 1 week ago

Kim Leadbeater is right to rethink assisted dying – but will MPs?

The Independent  

Sarah Palin, the former vice-presidential candidate in America, caused a meltdown in Britain when her comments on the use of “death panels” to ration healthcare were said to refer to the way that NHS funding is decided. It is almost as if Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP sponsoring the assisted dying bill, is trying to prove her right, 16 years later. Instead, Leadbeater now proposes a “voluntary assisted dying commission” that would appoint a “panel of experts”, including a psychiatrist and a social worker, to approve assisted dying requests. The “expert panels” seem to be a reasonable attempt, on Leadbeater’s own terms, to deliver the objective of a secure second layer of protection against patients being put under pressure – the first layer being two doctors – but they only illustrate how any assisted dying legislation is likely to lead legislators into deep water. They wanted strong safeguards, but they could see that a judge’s sign-off was not the best solution, so, having made a decision in favour of the bill in principle, they are likely to support Leadbeater’s expert panels – even if opponents call them “death panels”.

History of this topic

Doctors no longer against assisted dying, ending two-decade opposition
1 week, 2 days ago
Kim Leadbeater pleads for MPs’ final say on assisted dying bill as critics try to stop it with amendments
1 month, 1 week ago
Critics argue proposed changes ‘massively’ water down assisted dying Bill
1 month, 1 week ago
Bereaved families urge MPs to ‘remember’ them on assisted dying Bill
1 month, 1 week ago
Assisted dying: First MPs switch votes to oppose bill after High Court judge safeguard removed
1 month, 1 week ago
Assisted dying safeguards only prolong the suffering
1 month, 1 week ago
The assisted dying bill will now be subject to even more scrutiny – as it should be
1 month, 1 week ago
80 MPs who supported assisted dying bill could turn against it with High Court judge safeguard removed
1 month, 1 week ago
Assisted dying bill: What changes are being made to the controversial legislation?
1 month, 1 week ago
Kim Leadbeater denies watering down safeguards on assisted dying bill
1 month, 1 week ago
UK’s former top judge warns assisted dying approval should be kept out of courts
1 month, 3 weeks ago
Nursing leaders admit patients could choose assisted dying due to poor palliative care
1 month, 3 weeks ago
Diabetic MP’s bid to ensure her condition is not included as cause for assisted death
1 month, 3 weeks ago
The long and complex road to assisted dying
3 months, 1 week ago
Top Cabinet minister suggests Brits may have to pay for assisted dying like in Switzerland amid fears new law will heap pressure on broken NHS - as MPs warn they could yet pull their backing for Bill
3 months, 3 weeks ago
Opponents of assisted dying bill are already plotting to derail its legislation - with the backing of just 28 MPs needed to defeat it at the next vote
Trending News
3 months, 3 weeks ago
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3 months, 3 weeks ago
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3 months, 3 weeks ago
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3 months, 3 weeks ago
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3 months, 3 weeks ago
Assisted dying bill passes after vote, paving the way for historic change
3 months, 3 weeks ago
Still 'a lot of work to do' on assisted dying bill, Kim Leadbeater admits after MPs vote to legalise it - despite fears it will create a 'state suicide service'
3 months, 3 weeks ago
Keir Starmer must ensure that concerns about the assisted dying bill are met
3 months, 3 weeks ago
Assisted dying vote is a win for Starmer – but one he will not get the credit for
3 months, 3 weeks ago
British Parliament Supports Assisted Dying
3 months, 3 weeks ago
Opponents of assisted dying vow to fight on as Bill clears first hurdle
3 months, 3 weeks ago
British MPs advance contentious assisted dying law
3 months, 3 weeks ago
Assisted dying vote exposes divisions in all major parties from Labour to Reform over whether people should be allowed to end their own lives in the UK
3 months, 3 weeks ago
British Lawmakers Vote In Favor Of Legalizing Assisted Dying
3 months, 3 weeks ago
UK lawmakers approve assisted-dying bill to grant some terminally ill right to end lives
3 months, 3 weeks ago
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3 months, 3 weeks ago
British MPs to debate contentious assisted dying law
3 months, 3 weeks ago
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3 months, 3 weeks ago
Before voting on assisted dying today, I urge MPs to remember the definition of insanity
3 months, 3 weeks ago
Historic debate on legalizing assisted dying in England and Wales begins
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3 months, 3 weeks ago
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3 months, 3 weeks ago
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3 months, 3 weeks ago
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3 months, 3 weeks ago
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3 months, 3 weeks ago
UK MPs face crucial vote on divisive assisted dying bill
3 months, 3 weeks ago
British lawmakers give initial approval to a bill to allow terminally ill adults to end their lives
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3 months, 3 weeks ago
UK MPs vote to advance assisted-dying bill
Top News
3 months, 3 weeks ago
British Parliament votes in favour of new bill to legalise assisted dying
3 months, 3 weeks ago
This is no time to rush through a decision on assisted dying
3 months, 3 weeks ago
Assisted dying coercion by doctors ‘a significant threat’, warns top consultant
3 months, 3 weeks ago
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3 months, 3 weeks ago
Bill to legalize assisted dying in England and Wales faces heated parliamentary debate
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3 months, 3 weeks ago
I’m an expert in medical ethics – to me, assisted dying is the right idea at the wrong time
3 months, 3 weeks ago
U.K. House of Commons to vote on assisted dying
3 months, 3 weeks ago

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