Key takeaways
House of Lords begins two-day debate
Bill diverges from usual process for deeper scrutiny.
Safeguards and ethical concerns under review
Focus on protecting vulnerable groups and preventing coercion.
Palliative care investment urged over legislation
Critics call for improved support rather than assisted dying.
The Bill narrowly passed through the House of Commons and will be debated in the House of Lords today. The Bill will be debated for two days: 12 September and 19 September, diverging from usual process that gives one day for initial debate. The Bill will then return to the Lords for scrutiny of the proposals and to suggest possible amendments in the late Autumn.
If the Lords give approval, incorporating any amendments they suggest, there will then be:
A final agreement between the Commons and Lords.
Royal Assent.
Law takes effect after an implementation period.
Expected scrutiny will likely focus on:
The effectiveness of the proposed safeguards for vulnerable people who may be coerced or pressured to request an assisted death.
Impact on social attitudes and normalising death for the seriously ill, disabled or elderly, subtly devaluing life.
More investment into palliative care is needed rather than implementing assisted dying which is available for those who wish to travel.
The beginning of a slippery slope to increasingly expanded criteria to involve for example, mental illness.
Moral, religious and ethical concerns around proactively assisting death.
Constitutional legal concerns about the speed through which the bill has proceeded through parliament.
We will monitor the debate in the Lords and feed back any issues likely to impact health and social care organisations.