Latest news with #RoyalColleges
Telegraph
20-06-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Assisted dying Bill set to become law
Assisted dying is set to be legalised in England and Wales after a historic vote described as 'the most fateful' of this Parliament. MPs voted 314 to 291 in favour of allowing adults with a terminal illness and less than six months left to live to receive medical assistance to end their lives. Opponents of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill said the vote was ' on a knife-edge ' but the legislation was voted through by a majority of 23. Assisted dying is now on course to be available to eligible patients by 2029, but it remains unclear whether it will be provided as part of the NHS or an additional system will be created. Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the Bill, said her legislation would 'correct the profound injustices of the status quo and offer a compassionate and safe choice '. The controversial legislation has been passed by the Commons despite opposition from the Royal Colleges of Physicians, Psychiatrists and Pathologists. Critical MPs said it lacked sufficient safeguards to protect the vulnerable and that it would transform the relationship between individual and state. Concerns were also raised about the precarious state of the palliative care system, which could deprive eligible adults of an adequate choice at the end of life. MPs from each political party gave emotive and passionate speeches on both sides of the debate, with several citing their personal experiences with the deaths of loved ones. Diane Abbott, a veteran Labour MP, said: 'This may be the most fateful Bill that we discuss in this Parliament. It is literally a matter of life and death.' She said she opposed the legislation on behalf of the 'voiceless', adding: 'What could be more unjust than to lose your life to appallingly drafted legislation?' Kit Malthouse, a Tory MP and supporter of the Bill, responded by saying that he wanted to give a voice to dying people 'not because they want to be rescued, but because time and time again, they're begging us for mercy'. The former Cabinet minister added: 'We honour life by giving it meaning and power. And the one thing that dying people ask for in their agonising final moments is control over the disease that is destroying them.' Sir James Cleverly, who spoke against the Bill, said that the legislation would fundamentally change the relationship between doctor and patient. 'We will introduce, perhaps only a small, but a permanent question mark in the minds of every patient, particularly a patient who is discussing a serious illness or perhaps a terminal diagnosis. 'What is this medical profession expecting of me, what are they thinking?'' Tom Tugendhat, the former security minister, cautioned his Parliamentary colleagues to pay attention to the precise wording of the Bill and its impact on society's most vulnerable. 'The truth is, this is the last time we're going to talk about it. This is the last time we're going to have actual authority over these words,' he said. Mr Tugendhat warned that when the first 18 or 19-year-old applies for an assisted death, ' it will be we who made that decision '. 'It will be on our consciences, and it will be a decision that has fundamentally changed the relationship between the individual and the state, in a way that can never be reversed,' he said. Eligible patients will be able to have an assisted death if they get the approval of two doctors and an assisted dying panel, made up of a psychiatrist, social worker and a legal expert. This was added to the Bill after a Second Reading in the Commons in November, after concerns were raised about the original proposal to have a High Court judge sign off each application. Sir James also cited the concerns raised by a number of professional bodies that will be involved in the provision of assisted dying. 'When people upon whom we rely to deliver this say they are not ready and they don't feel they will be ready, they don't have enough people, they don't have enough capacity, they will have to take resource from current provisions to move across to this provision, which will be driven by a statutory requirement and a locked in commencement date, we should listen.' Vicky Foxcroft, a Labour MP who served as a shadow minister for disabled people, said that in the Bill's development, 'the absence of disabled people's voices has been astonishing'. Whereas Dr Peter Prinsley said: 'As a young doctor, I found the measures that we're debating today completely unconscionable, but now I'm an old doctor, I feel sure this is an essential change.' He added: 'There is an absolute sanctity of human life, but we are not dealing with life or death, rather death or death. For there is also a sanctity of human dignity and fundamental to that is surely choice. Who are we to deny that?'
Sky News
19-06-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Why cancer patient is praying assisted dying bill passes major vote
On Friday, the social fabric of England and Wales might be changed forever. MPs are set to vote on the assisted dying bill and supporters are confident that they have the numbers to win. But the hugely controversial legislation polarises opinion. Communities remain divided, and medical colleagues can't agree. Three royal colleges have withdrawn support for the bill in its current form. They want more time to be given for further scrutiny of the legislation. Frank Sutton does not have time. When we went to Frank's home in East Dulwich, London, last November to watch the vote unfold she already had terminal liver disease and cancer. As the vote was passed with a majority of 55, Frank broke down in tears and said: "Finally, I can die in peace." Frank is unlikely to live long enough to see assisted dying introduced in England and Wales. If the legislation passes, it will be introduced in four years. Frank now suffers from diabetes and fibromyalgia. She said: "On top of everything I've got, to start developing more comorbidities, I have a massive thought in my head, which I live with every day, which is, is my body - am I on the road to the end? You know, is my body just giving up? "I mean, I was taking morphine anyway for pain, but now I'm living on morphine, and that's not a life that you want." But even as MPs prepare to vote, many important questions remain over who will take responsibility for determining a patient's mental capacity and their prognosis. The Royal College of Psychiatrists said it was approaching Friday "with trepidation". Dr Annabel Price, the RCPsych's lead on assisted dying, told Sky News: "If this bill as it stands proceeds through the rest of the parliamentary process, we as psychiatrists are left in a situation where there are so many unknowns about what is expected of us, about what patients can expect and about the safety of the process. "We will continue to engage and there may be opportunities for reconsideration at further points in the bill. But yes, I approach this professionally with trepidation." The Royal College of GPs says the assisted dying process should happen outside of general practice. Dr Susi Caesar is in favour of the bill being passed and feels it is okay for the medical community to be so divided on the issue. She said: "I think people have the right to make their own choices and absolutely I would not want to see anybody forced into being part of this process who didn't. Our current system is broken and this law would go a long way towards fixing it, at least for a certain group of people." 1:43 But the Royal Colleges of Physicians (RCP) also has reservations about the bill in its current form. It says it would be hard for a panel of experts who have no connection to a patient requesting an assisted death to determine if the person is being coerced or has mental capacity. Dr John Dean, clinical vice president at the RCP has concerns, saying: "Currently decisions clearly are made by patients but agreed by single doctors and then the social worker and psychiatrists are not meeting the patient and those that have been caring for them. "This has to be done in keeping with modern clinical practice which is complex decisions made with patients and families by teams." But for patients like Frank, these concerns have not changed her mind. She said: "I'm praying for Friday that it still goes through because, like I said, it's not going to happen in my lifetime, but the thought that people like me who still try to look nice, who still tried to have a life and everything, that they can just have some peace of mind and they can have a weight lifted off their shoulders knowing that they're going to be able to do it peacefully with their family."
Sky News
19-06-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Why I'm praying assisted dying bill passes major vote - even though it's not going to happen in my lifetime
On Friday, the social fabric of England and Wales might be changed forever. MPs are set to vote on the assisted dying bill and supporters are confident that they have the numbers to win. But the hugely controversial legislation polarises opinion. Communities remain divided, and medical colleagues can't agree. Three royal colleges have withdrawn support for the bill in its current form. They want more time to be given for further scrutiny of the legislation. 1:12 Frank Sutton does not have time. When we went to Frank's home in East Dulwich, London, last November to watch the vote unfold she already had terminal liver disease and cancer. As the vote was passed with a majority of 55, Frank broke down in tears and said: "Finally, I can die in peace." Frank is unlikely to live long enough to see assisted dying introduced in England and Wales. If the legislation passes, it will be introduced in four years. Frank now suffers from diabetes and fibromyalgia. She said: "On top of everything I've got, to start developing more comorbidities, I have a massive thought in my head, which I live with every day, which is, is my body, am I on the road to the end, you know, is my body just giving up? "I mean, I was taking morphine anyway for pain, but now I'm living on morphine, and that's not a life that you want." But even as MPs prepare to vote, many important questions remain over who will take responsibility for determining a patient's mental capacity and their prognosis. The Royal College of Psychiatrists said it was approaching Friday "with trepidation". Dr Annabel Price, the RCPsych's lead on assisted dying, told Sky News: "If this bill as it stands proceeds through the rest of the parliamentary process, we as psychiatrists are left in a situation where there are so many unknowns about what is expected of us, about what patients can expect and about the safety of the process. "We will continue to engage and there may be opportunities for reconsideration at further points in the bill. But yes, I approach this professionally with trepidation." The Royal College of GPs says the assisted dying process should happen outside of general practice. Dr Susi Caesar is in favour of the bill being passed and feels it is okay for the medical community to be so divided on the issue. She said: "I think people have the right to make their own choices and absolutely I would not want to see anybody forced into being part of this process who didn't. Our current system is broken and this law would go a long way towards fixing it, at least for a certain group of people." 1:43 But the Royal Colleges of Physicians (RCP) also has reservations about the bill in its current form. It says it would be hard for a panel of experts who have no connection to a patient requesting an assisted death to determine if the person is being coerced or has mental capacity. Dr John Dean, clinical vice president at the RCP has concerns, saying: "Currently decisions clearly are made by patients but agreed by single doctors and then the social worker and psychiatrists are not meeting the patient and those that have been caring for them. "This has to be done in keeping with modern clinical practice which is complex decisions made with patients and families by teams." But for patients like Frank, these concerns have not changed her mind. She said: "I'm praying for Friday that it still goes through because, like I said, it's not going to happen in my lifetime, but the thought that people like me who still try to look nice, who still tried to have a life and everything, that they can just have some peace of mind and they can have a weight lifted off their shoulders knowing that they're going to be able to do it peacefully with their family."
The Independent
17-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
MP claims assisted dying could be ‘trojan horse that breaks the NHS'
An opponent of the assisted dying Bill has claimed such a service 'could become the trojan horse that breaks the NHS' after Health Secretary Wes Streeting was questioned about the availability of money to fund it. It is expected MPs will have a vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday, which could see it either progress to the House of Lords or fall. It will be the first time the Bill has been voted on in its entirety since November's historic yes vote, when MPs supported the principle of assisted dying for England and Wales by a majority of 55. While supporters of the Bill say it is coming back to the Commons with better safeguards after more than 90 hours of parliamentary time spent on it to date, opponents claim the process has been rushed and that the Bill is now weaker than it was when first introduced last year. A key change was the replacing of a High Court judge requirement for sign-off of applications from terminally ill people, with a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist. As it stands, the proposed legislation would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and the three-member panel. While the Bill has the backing of some MPs from medical backgrounds, concerns have also been raised by the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Psychiatrists. Disability campaigners have voiced worries about coercion and how vulnerable people could be caught up in any new law, although the proposed legislation is supported by MP and disability rights advocate Marie Tidball as well as former director of public prosecutions Sir Max Hill. On Tuesday, Mr Streeting confirmed no money has yet been allocated for the setting up of an assisted dying service and reiterated the Government is neutral on the Bill. Mr Streeting voted no last year and has since indicated he remains opposed to the Bill. MPs are entitled to have a free vote on the Bill and any amendments, meaning they decide according to their conscience rather than along party lines. He was asked by Labour MP Katrina Murray, who also voted no in November, whether the NHS has the money to fund assisted dying on top of its other priorities. She said: 'If passed, the assisted dying Bill would make thousands of terminally ill people every year eligible to end their lives on the NHS. 'Does our health service have the money to fund this service as well as its priority of bringing down waiting lists?' Mr Streeting responded: 'Of course, the Government is neutral (on assisted dying). It's for the House to decide. 'There isn't money allocated to set up the service in the Bill at present, but it's for members of this House and the Lords, should the Bill proceed, to decide whether or not to proceed and that's a decision that this Government will respect either way.' Mr Streeting said last year that there were 'choices and trade-offs', adding 'any new service comes at the expense of other competing pressures and priorities'. Dame Siobhain McDonagh, fellow Labour MP who is also opposed to the Bill, claimed an assisted dying service could 'rob our stretched NHS of much needed resources'. She said: 'When asked today in the House of Commons the Secretary of State for Health made clear to MPs that there is no money allocated to the NHS to fund the assisted dying Bill. 'It's now clear that the assisted dying Bill will rob our stretched NHS of much needed resources and could become the trojan horse that breaks the NHS, the proudest institution and the proudest measure in our Labour Party's history. 'We already know from the impact assessment that this new system could cost tens if not hundreds of millions of pounds making our mission to cut waiting times and rebuild our NHS harder. 'I urge Labour MPs not to vote for the assisted dying Bill to protect the vulnerable and our NHS.' An impact assessment published by the Government last month estimated that the establishment of a Voluntary Assisted Dying Commissioner and the three-member expert panels would cost an average of between £10.9 million and £13.6 million per year, although overall implementation costs of a service were not possible to work out yet. While noting that cutting end-of-life care costs 'is not stated as an objective of the policy', the assessment estimated that such costs could be reduced by as much as an estimated £10 million in the first year and almost £60 million after 10 years. Bill sponsor Kim Leadbeater has said the proposed legislation is about giving dying people choice at the end of their lives, saying it is 'about the human cost' and 'not about pounds and pence'. She has described her Bill as the 'most robust piece of legislation in this area in the world'. Dozens of Labour MPs called for Friday's overall vote to be delayed, asking Commons Leader Lucy Powell for more time to scrutinise a Bill they say is 'perhaps the most consequential piece of legislation that has appeared before the House in generations'. But a Government spokesperson pointed out that it is a Private Members' Bill and 'the amount of time for debate is therefore a matter for the House'.
Sky News
13-06-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Palpable anger as both sides of assisted dying debate gather in Parliament Square
Finger jabbing, the frenetic shaking of heads and the competitively loud chanting to drown out the opposition are all symptoms of rising tensions. The two sides of the assisted dying debate clashed on Parliament Square Garden as parliament worked through amendments on Kim Leadbeater's controversial bill. The sides have not shared the same space before, not intellectually, nor emotionally, nor physically. But on Friday, they stood uncomfortably close together, mostly squaring up to each other because neither side could afford to give an inch to the other. The pink-wearing supporters of the bill usually have the green lawns opposite Big Ben to themselves. The black-wearing opponents of the proposed legislation usually stand with their tombstone placards much further down towards Jewel Tower. But they decided to decamp to Parliament Square on the penultimate day ahead of the final vote next week. As the months have passed, the discourse has become increasingly bitter. There is a lot at stake for both sides, and the anger is palpable. Doctors have been publicly falling out with each other, each side accusing the other of spreading misinformation. Even some of the Royal Colleges have become embroiled in rows with sections of their membership calling out their leadership. And the emotion outside parliament was reflected inside the Commons when Liberal Democrat MP Caroline Voaden (South Devon), whose husband died of oesophageal cancer, warned MPs about the language being used. Assisted dying, she said, was not the same as "murder and killing". But those words, and stronger, were plastered across placards held by opponents of the bill outside parliament. Expect the language to become more incendiary, more accusatory in the weeks to come. In seven days, we will learn which side has won.
