Britain's proposed assisted dying law for terminally ill individuals may be delayed until 2029, following amendments to the legislation that extend the timeline for implementation and add new safeguards, with the bill still needing approval from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Britain's proposed assisted dying law for terminally ill individuals may be delayed until 2029, following changes in the timeline for its implementation. Initially, the bill, which passed a historic vote last year, aimed to allow assisted dying for mentally competent, terminally ill adults with six months or less to live. This would align Britain with countries like Australia, Canada, and some U.S. states in a significant social reform.
However, lawmaker Kim Leadbeater, who sponsors the bill, announced on Wednesday that the implementation deadline would be extended from two years to four, largely due to amendments to the legislation. The most significant change includes replacing the requirement for a High Court judge to approve each case with a panel of experts, including legal figures, psychiatrists, and social workers. This shift is expected to take more time to establish.
While polls show broad public support for assisted dying, the bill is still under review and must pass through both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Leadbeater, a member of the Labour Party, emphasized that the four-year delay is a "backstop" and not a set target, though if it extends until 2029, the legislation could be pushed beyond the next national election.
Supporters argue that the law will help terminally ill patients end their suffering and gain more control over their lives, while opponents raise concerns about insufficient safeguards to protect vulnerable individuals from coercion.
In a related development, the Isle of Man recently became the first in the British Isles to approve an assisted dying bill, granting terminally ill residents the legal right to end their lives.
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