The decision by Kim Leadbeater MP to choose Assisted Dying as the subject for her Private Member’s Bill is good news. She came top of the recent MPs’ ballot and her Bill is therefore assured of such Parliamentary time as it may need. It will now also receive priority over the other two Bills currently before Parliament. Lord Falconer’s Bill will probably be allowed to proceed through the House of Lords but will then go no further. Jake Richards MP will simply choose another subject for his 11th placed debate.
The title of Kim Leadbeater’s Bill will be known on the 16th October. Its full contents will be published in November. If passed, it could become law as early as January 2026.
It is already possible, however, to speculate with some accuracy about the salient questions it will answer.
Will it only be available to people who are “terminally ill” ? Yes. Which means that sufferers of Parkinsons, Altzheimers or MND will still have to go to Switzerland.
Will “terminally ill” be defined as less than six months ? Probably. Dignity in Dying will certainly campaign for such a definition in order to maximise Parliamentary support. It is notable, however, that in Scotland DiD were prepared to support Liam McArthur’s Bill, even though “terminally ill” was not specifically defined.
Will it still be necessary for two independent doctors to certify that the illness is terminal ? Yes.
And will it still be necessary for their decision to be certified by a High Court judge ? Probably not. This is certainly still something that DiD will argue for but it will have to be dropped, if only on grounds of practicality
Will the Bill decriminalise relatives of patients with MND or Parkinsons who will still want to choose Switzerland ?. Probably not. This was, of course, the purpose of Kevin Hollinrake’s Bill four years ago but there has been no mention of it so far.
It is estimated that if the Bill passes, it will reduce the number of people travelling each year from England and Wales to Switzerland for an Assisted Voluntary Death. That number, currently around 130, is likely to fall to around 50.
