What’s happening in Westminster and beyond?

The issue of assisted dying is not only being considered by MPs in Westminster.

Here the PA news agency looks at what’s happening nearby.

– What is assisted dying?

This and the language used vary depending on who you ask.

Supporters of the Dignity in Dying changes argue that, in addition to good care, dying people who are terminally ill and mentally competent adults deserve the ability to control the time and manner of their deaths.

However, campaign group Care Not Killing uses the terms “assisted suicide” and “euthanasia” and argues that the focus should be on “promoting more and better palliative care” rather than any change in the law.

They argue that legalizing assisted dying could “put pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives for fear of being a financial, emotional or caring burden on others”, and say disabled, elderly, sick or depressed people may be particularly at risk.

– What is the current law?

Assisted suicide is banned in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.

It is not a specific offense in Scotland, but aiding or abetting someone’s death can expose a person to charges of murder or another crime.

– What’s going on in Westminster?

In October, Labor MP Kim Leadbeater formally presented her Terminally Ill (End of Life) Bill to Parliament.

The debate and first vote are expected to take place on Friday.

If the bill passes the first stage in the House of Commons, it will move to committee stage, where MPs can table amendments, before being further scrutinized and voted on in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, meaning any change to the law will not will agree to next year at the earliest.

Ms Leadbeater’s Bill would only apply to England and Wales.

– What’s going on in Scotland?

Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament Liam McArthur introduced a member’s bill – Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) – on this issue at Holyrood.

Under the proposals, eligibility requires living in Scotland for at least a year, registering with a GP in the country and having mental capacity.

A person would also need to be able to take medication to end their life on their own.

McArthur said he expected the first key vote to take place in the Scottish Parliament in late spring or early summer 2025.

– What about other parts of Great Britain, Ireland and the Crown Dependencies?

Any move to legalize assisted dying in Northern Ireland would have to be passed by politicians in the devolved Assembly at Stormont.

In May, the Jersey Parliament voted in favor of a bill to establish an assisted dying service on the island for terminally ill people.

Under the proposed Bill, adults who have been resident in Jersey for at least a year who voluntarily, regulated and knowingly wish to take their own life would qualify under the Bill if they have a terminal illness and a life expectancy of six months, or 12 months if they have a medical condition. neurodegenerative.

If approved in Jersey, the bill could come into force in spring 2027 at the earliest.

The Isle of Man Assisted Dying Bill passed third reading in July and is undergoing further scrutiny in the island’s parliament.

As it stands, the Isle of Man Act only applies to adults who have lived on the island for five years, have an incurable disease, have a life expectancy of less than 12 months and have a strong desire to end their life.

Campaigners say that if the bill receives royal assent next year, assisted dying would be available to eligible Manx residents from as early as 2027.

In the Republic of Ireland, a committee recommended in March the introduction of legislation to allow assisted dying in certain limited circumstances, but this was divisive, with some committee members arguing that the case for assisted dying was “not established”.

A Private Member’s Voluntary Assisted Dying bill was introduced in the Irish Parliament in June, but it expired earlier this month when the election was called.

– What is the opinion of society?

This is different. A survey conducted in September by the Policy Institute and the Complex Life and Death Decisions group at King’s College London (KCL) found that almost two-thirds of just over 2,000 adults surveyed in England and Wales want assisted dying to be legalized next year for terminally ill adults. five years.

However, it showed the changing nature of some people’s views – some people expressed support, saying they might change their minds if they felt someone was forced to choose assisted death or made such a choice due to lack of access to care.

Overall, the survey found that a fifth (20%) of people said they did not want assisted dying to be legalized in the next five years, while 63% said they did.

Campaigners for Care Not Killing said the poll showed that public support for what they called “assisted suicide” has declined over the past decade, and highlighted statistics about concerns that people feel pressure to take their own lives.

The latest poll by More in Common shows that 65% support the principle of assisted dying, 13% are against it and the rest are not sure.

A poll this month of around 2,000 people in the UK also found that almost a third (30%) were unaware the topic was being debated in Parliament.

About a quarter of respondents said eligibility for assisted dying should be based on life expectancy, as is the case under the current bill, but 51% said people with terminal degenerative and paralytic diseases should be eligible, which the current bill does the Act does not propose .