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MP plans to back assisted dying bill

House of Commons A blonde woman with curls stands against a black backdrop looking centrally at the camera House of Commons
Rosie Wrighting MP said she believed in "giving people the right to choose" how to end their life

A Labour MP said she planned to vote in favour of the bill to legalise assisted dying.

Rosie Wrighting, the MP for Kettering in Northamptonshire, said she believed those who were terminally ill and mentally competent should have the right to choose how their life ended.

MPs are due to debate and vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on 29 November, which would make it legal for over-18s who were terminally ill to be given assistance to end their own life.

Ms Wrighting said: "Giving people the choice through this legislation would mean anyone who is terminally ill does not have to go through any of these distressing scenarios."

Shutterstock Supporters of the Terminally Ill bill stand in front of Parliament. They are holding up pink and blue signs in support of the bill. Shutterstock
Members of the Dignity in Dying campaign group gathered in Westminster last month following the bill's first reading in Parliament

The last House of Commons vote on changing the law was in 2015 when MPs voted against it in a second reading, by 330 votes to 118.

If MPs vote in favour of the bill this time round, it would then have to pass further stages and scrutiny before becoming law.

Under the proposed legislation, a person must be aged over 18, registered with a GP for at least 12 months, have the mental capacity to make a choice about the end of their life, be terminally ill and be expected to die within six months to be eligible.

A patient must sign two separate and witnessed declarations and can change their mind at any time.

The bill says two independent doctors must also be satisfied they are eligible.

Their application would then go before a High Court judge, who must hear from at least one of the doctors and may question the person making the application.

Ms Wrighting added: "It is vital that any change in the law includes strong and proper safeguards to ensure it is not applied in cases that do not meet the legislation, which I believe this bill sets out.

"I am also clear that I believe assisted dying should not become an alternative to high-quality palliative and end-of-life care.

"People deserve dignity in dying and each person nearing the end of their life should feel reassured and safe in the knowledge they will receive the very best care."

There are a number of MPs who say they will vote against the bill, including within the Labour party.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has said he is "minded" to vote against the bill, while Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he did not believe the palliative care system was good enough to support assisted dying.

Other opponents have warned people could be put under pressure to end their lives.

Paralympian and House of Lords crossbencher Baroness Grey-Thompson has told the BBC she is worried about "the impact on vulnerable people, on disabled people, [the risk of] coercive control, and the ability of doctors to make a six-month diagnosis".

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