Assisted dying passes its first hurdle: what next?

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

20

MPs have voted by 330 votes to 275 for the second reading of the bill to legalise assisted dying.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgzkp79npgo

This is the first hurdle it needs to clear in Parliament, but there will be several more stages in both the Commons and the Lords before it can become law.

It was not a total knife-edge vote but it was closer than many in this Parliament.

With a number of MPs supporting the bill conditionally and likely attempts to amend the bill, what will happen next?

Reply 1

toppby55

16

I hope it doesn't become law

Reply 2

stilllearning123

16

Original post

by toppby55

I hope it doesn't become law

Why not? Do you have nay idea of the strain it is putting on the NHS to pay to keep these people alive, living a life no one would want to live, one worse than death?
I can see why you would see it as you do, but with the proper regulations I believe that it can be very important in the outcome of the NHS in the near future.

Reply 3

Talkative Toad

Volunteer Team

22

Original post

by toppby55

I hope it doesn't become law

Same.

Reply 4

toppby55

16

Original post

by stilllearning123

Why not? Do you have nay idea of the strain it is putting on the NHS to pay to keep these people alive, living a life no one would want to live, one worse than death?
I can see why you would see it as you do, but with the proper regulations I believe that it can be very important in the outcome of the NHS in the near future.

I get what you mean, but I feel like it shouldn't be a law because SOME people may abuse it. I expect it won't be as easy as going to the doctors, asking to die, and boom, dead in 6 weeks from now but I also feel like allowing a rule like this to happen will become a slippery slope for people. How can a doctor fully understand the reasons of his/her patient? How do we know patients are in as much discomfort or pain as much as they say they are? How do we know family of the patient aren't coercing the patient to do it? I know it'll cost the NHS money but it'll be costing money to kill them too. I agree with laws like the death penalty but not something like this.

Reply 5

stilllearning123

16

Original post

by toppby55

I get what you mean, but I feel like it shouldn't be a law because SOME people may abuse it. I expect it won't be as easy as going to the doctors, asking to die, and boom, dead in 6 weeks from now but I also feel like allowing a rule like this to happen will become a slippery slope for people. How can a doctor fully understand the reasons of his/her patient? How do we know patients are in as much discomfort or pain as much as they say they are? How do we know family of the patient aren't coercing the patient to do it? I know it'll cost the NHS money but it'll be costing money to kill them too. I agree with laws like the death penalty but not something like this.

I would say I disagree with the death penalty for the sole reason that it is a quick end for committing such atrocities. On the flip side, the assisted dying would prevent people enduring such physical atrocities, like a cancer that slowly eats away at them until there is nothing left, they should have the option of an easy out.

Assisted dying passes its first hurdle: what next?

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