Is the current law cruel? Campaigners argue that the rules prevent the sickest people in society from ending their lives with dignity and compassion.
MPs get free vote on assisted dying
Is the current law cruel? Campaigners argue that the rules prevent the sickest people in society from ending their lives with dignity and compassion.
Imagine an elderly family member suffering from late-stage cancer. One day that family member asks you to help them die. What would you do?
In Britain, people who help loved ones to die face prosecution and up to 14 years in prison. But this month Parliament will debate a new law, which would allow the sickest people to end their lives.
Assisted dying means someone who is terminally illSuffering from an incurable illness. seeking medical help to kill themselves, usually with lethalto cause death drugs.1 Lord Falconer, a lawyer and politician, argues the ban on assisted dying "offers no compassion to those at the end of their lives".2
The campaign has celebrity support. Broadcaster Esther Rantzen, who has terminal cancer, said the proposed change gave her "a glimpse of hope".3 Polling suggests that twice as many people support changing the law as support keeping it the same.4
But critics warn the change might be a "slippery slope." They worry that anyone elderly or unwell would feel pressured into ending their lives.
In Canada a similar law was introduced in 2016, and then extended a few years later. The health minister for the province of Quebec thought it would lead to "perhaps a hundred" deaths. In 2022, that figure was 4,800.5
The new bill is being proposed by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. She argues that any change would include "proper protections and safeguards".6 But the UK's health service is already stretched to breaking point. Instead, critics argue that more money should be spent on palliativemedical care that focuses on pain relief care.
Assisted dying is a deeply personal issue. For those who have watched family members in terrible pain, the fact that they cannot end their life seems deeply unjust. However, if the new bill makes it legal to kill the most vulnerable people in society, the consequences could be even more unfair.
Is the current law cruel?
Yes: At present, the terminally ill cannot choose when and how to end their suffering. If loved ones help them die with dignity, they are treated as criminals.
No: The current law protects the most vulnerable people in society. Legal changes could pressure them into ending their lives to avoid becoming a burden to family members.
Or... Before giving doctors the right to end patients' lives, we need to make sure the health service is properly funded. Otherwise it will be difficult to trust any legal safeguards.
Terminally ill - Suffering from an incurable illness.
lethal - to cause death
palliative - medical care that focuses on pain relief
MPs get free vote on assisted dying

Glossary
Terminally ill - Suffering from an incurable illness.
lethal - to cause death
palliative - medical care that focuses on pain relief