I’m changing my bill to ensure people have the right to a dignified death – here’s how
GuardianFEB 14
UK: Committee Votes to Replace High Court Role in Assisted Dying Bill
Above: People walk past the Elizabeth Tower in central London, on Nov. 29, 2024, as supporters and opponents of a bill to legalize euthanasia in the UK gather outside the Houses of Parliament. Image copyright: BENJAMIN CREMEL/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Progressive narrative
The decision to drop High Court approval is a vital and practical step forward. By involving experts like psychiatrists and social workers, the process becomes more compassionate and robust, ensuring mental capacity is fully assessed and coercion identified. This change strengthens safeguards without adding unnecessary legal barriers, making end-of-life decisions more accessible and humane.
Conservative narrative
The decision to replace High Court approval is a troubling weakening of crucial safeguards. By removing judicial oversight, the bill risks diluting protections for the vulnerable, especially against coercion. Rushing this legislation undermines proper scrutiny, leaving questions about patient safety unanswered. MPs must take caution and reject this flawed approach when it returns to the Commons.