UK’s Assisted Dying Bill:
The UK House of Commons voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, allowing terminally ill patients to request assistance to end their own lives.This landmark decision reflects ongoing debates about end-of-life rights and raises questions about ethical considerations and legal frameworks.
Key Highlights of the UK’s Assisted Dying Bill:
- The Suicide Act 1961 makes it illegal to encourage or assist a suicide in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Assisted suicide is considered an offence and can be punished with up to 14 years in prison.
- Since 2013, at least three bills have been introduced to allow assisted dying in the UK.
- A terminally ill person is defined as someone with a worsening condition that cannot be reversed by treatment and is expected to die within 6 months.
- The bill explicitly excludes individuals with disabilities or mental disorders.
- Eligibility Criteria: Only terminally ill individuals aged 18 and above with mental capacity can request assisted dying.
- Patients must be registered and residing in England or Wales for at least 12 months prior to the request.
- In the United Kingdom, each nation and crown dependency is responsible for its own health care, so Scotland and Northern Ireland would have to pass their own assisted-dying rules.
