UK: Assisted Dying Bill Sponsor Proposes Swapping High Court Approval With Expert Panel

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FEB 11

Above: Labour MP Kim Leadbeater joins terminally ill advocates, bereaved families, and campaigners for a photocall outside the House of Parliament on Oct. 9, 2024. Image copyright: Ben Whitley/PA Images via Getty Imagesstory last updated FEB 12

The Facts

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater has announced her intent to propose an amendment to her assisted dying bill. If introduced, it would replace High Court judge approval of assisted dying applications with that of an expert panel.
The prospective system would establish a Voluntary Assisted Dying Commission, chaired by a High Court judge or former senior judge, to authorize expert panels to review each application.
Each panel, termed "Judge Plus," would include a legal chair, psychiatrist, and social worker to assess mental capacity and identify any risk of coercion in assisted dying requests. Leadbeater stated on X that the new system would create a "multidisciplinary layer of protection."

The Spin

Progressive narrative

Proposed changes to the assisted dying bill are a step forward in protecting the rights of terminally ill people while ensuring their safety. By introducing a Voluntary Assisted Dying Commission and expert panels, the bill addresses concerns about the unworkable demands on the High Court. These changes ensure robust safeguards without overburdening individuals during their final months.

Guardian Humanists UK

Conservative narrative

Swapping High Court oversight with a so-called "expert panel" seriously risks weakening safeguards before this law has even passed. Removing judicial scrutiny could undermine protections for the vulnerable, handing significant power to unelected individuals operating without public accountability. This sets a dangerous precedent, and could be the start of a slippery slope in assisted dying legislation.

Conservative Post X