Peers call for more time to debate assisted dying bill

"Peers have called for more time to debate legislation which would introduce assisted dying in England and Wales, as the bill makes slow progress through the House of Lords. More than 900 changes have been proposed by peers, which experts believe is a record number for a piece of legislation put forward by a backbench MP. Supporters of the bill have raised concerns that the volume of amendments put forward is a delaying tactic and claimed there are deliberate attempts to stall its progress."

"The legislation proposes allowing terminally ill adults with fewer than six months to live to apply for an assisted death. This would be subject to approval by two doctors and a panel including a social worker, a senior legal figure and a psychiatrist. The House of Lords spent almost five hours debating proposed changes to the bill on Friday - the first of at least four days of line-by-line examination, which is known as committee stage."

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would allow terminally ill adults with fewer than six months to live to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a panel including a social worker, a senior legal figure and a psychiatrist. The bill cleared the Commons and passed its first stage in the Lords but needs final agreement from both Houses before the session ends next spring. Peers have proposed more than 900 amendments; supporters say the volume delays progress while opponents insist major changes are needed to protect vulnerable people. Committee stage has begun but progress has been slow.

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