Labor MP Kim Leadbeater don introduce new bill for UK parliament wey aim to legalize assisted dying for people wey dey terminally ill. Dis bill, wey go be presented on Wednesday, be di first time in almost ten years wey House of Commons go discuss di possibility of doctors helping people to end their lives.
Di bill go allow adults wey get six months or less to live to request assistance from doctors to die, but dem must get permission from High Court after two medical practitioners sign declaration. Leadbeater emphasize say di legislation go have strong protections and safeguards to ensure say disabled individuals or those with mental health issues no go be pressured to end their lives.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer don promise say MPs go have ‘free vote’ on dis matter, meaning dem no go follow party lines. Starmer, wey support similar bill in 2015, say there be valid reasons to change di current law.
Dame Esther Rantzen, wey be children’s charity founder and dey battle advanced lung cancer, urge people to contact their local MPs, saying “All we are asking for is di right to choose.” Rantzen plan to travel to Switzerland, where assisted suicide be legal for non-residents, because UK no get legal option.
Opponents of assisted dying, including actress Liz Carr, a disability rights advocate, argue say changing di law could put vulnerable populations at risk. Dem say it could lead to more lenient criteria and pressure people to end their lives because of fear of being a burden.
Public sentiment on di matter dey shift, with recent polls showing majority support for legalizing assisted dying. For example, one poll by Opinium for Dignity in Dying show 75% of people support di legalization, while another by Ipsos find 66% in favor.
Di bill go be debated and voted on November 29, and if it pass, it go undergo examination by parliamentary committee before moving to House of Lords for further consideration.
