A need for a High Court judge to decide on assisted dying cases could be scrapped amid growing concerns over new legislation.
Psychiatrists and social workers are set to be involved in approving assisted dying applications under proposals aimed at improving safeguards under a new law.
Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, is expected to bring forward amendments for a so-called “judge plus” system after hearing concerns during expert evidence sessions last month.
A group of 23 MPs is preparing to undertake line-by-line scrutiny of the proposed legislation from Tuesday, with the process expected to last weeks.
As it stands, the Bill could mean terminally ill adults in England and Wales with under six months to live are legally allowed to end their lives, subject to approval by two doctors and a High Court judge.
Ms Leadbeater had already argued the High Court approval element makes her proposed legislation the strictest in the world.
She has now proposed a judge-led Voluntary Assisted Dying Commission that she said would give a greater role for experts, including psychiatrists and social workers, in overseeing applications.
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MPs criticise assisted dying changes
A number of MPs posted on social media criticising the proposals to replace High Court judge approval with an expert panel.
Labour MP Diane Abbott posted on X saying: “Safeguards on the Assisted Dying Bill are collapsing. Rushed, badly thought out legislation. Needs to be voted down.”
Conservative shadow work and pensions minister Danny Kruger wrote: “Approval by the High Court – the key safeguard used to sell the Assisted Suicide Bill to MPs – has been dropped.
“Instead, we have a panel, NOT including a judge, of people committed to the process, sitting in private, without hearing arguments from the other side. A disgrace”
Lib Dem MP Tim Farron added: “Lots of MPs voted for the bill at 2nd reading in the expectation that there would be stronger safeguards added at committee stage… and yet we now see that even the weak safeguards that existed, are being dropped.”
Replace High Court judge approval with expert panel – Leadbeater
The MP behind the assisted dying Bill has proposed replacing the need for High Court judge approval with an expert panel in a move she argues would strengthen a new law.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater is expected to bring forward amendments for a so-called “judge plus” system after hearing concerns during expert evidence sessions last month.
MPs opposed to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill said the new proposals weaken safeguards, not strengthen them.
A group of 23 MPs is preparing to undertake line-by-line scrutiny of the proposed legislation from today, with the process expected to last weeks.
As it stands, the Bill could see terminally ill adults in England and Wales with under six months to live legally allowed to end their lives, subject to approval by two doctors and a High Court judge.
Ms Leadbeater had said the High Court approval element made her legislation the strictest in the world.
She has now proposed a judge-led Voluntary Assisted Dying Commission that she said would give a greater role to experts, including psychiatrists and social workers, in overseeing applications.
The commission would be led by a High Court judge or a senior former judge and receive all applications and reports from two independent doctors, which would then be referred to a three-member panel chaired by what has been described as a senior legal figure.