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.

The campaign for assisted dyinghelping a person to end their life has celebrity support. Broadcaster Esther Rantzen, who has terminalWhen an illness is going to be fatal. cancer, said the proposed change gave her hope. Polling suggests that twice as many people support changing the law as support keeping it the same.

But critics worry that anyone elderly or unwell would feel pressured into ending their lives.

The new law is being proposed in a billA printed or written statement of the money owed for goods or services. Can also mean a draft of a suggested new law presented to lawmakers for discussion. by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. She argues that any change would include "proper protections and safeguards".

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! If loved ones help the terminally ill die with dignity, they are treated as criminals.

No! Legal changes could pressure vulnerable people into ending their lives to avoid becoming a burden to relatives.

assisted dying - helping a person to end their life

Terminal - When an illness is going to be fatal.

bill - A printed or written statement of the money owed for goods or services. Can also mean a draft of a suggested new law presented to lawmakers for discussion.