London, Thanasis Gavos

Started the morning at House of Commons the debate on a proposal for a law on its legalization voluntary assisted death.

The issue has divided the British MPs, who will be called this afternoon to vote by conscience on whether they think the bill should proceed to the next stages of the legislative process, namely the detailed examination and the possible submission of amendments before final approval.

More than 160 MPs have asked to stand, with Labor MP Kim Ledbeater opening the debate, who has tabled the “private” bill, as procedure allows. “The bill gives terminally ill patients, under very strict criteria, the choice, the autonomy, the dignity at the end of their life,” said the rapporteur.

The bill proposes to allow terminally ill adults diagnosed with less than six months to live to seek help to end their lives.

Approval by two independent doctors and a judge will be required. A period of at least seven days must elapse from the medical approval and another 14 days from the judicial approval to administer the lethal dose of medicine to the patient.

Physicians should state with certainty that the patient is not under pressure from others to request assisted suicide. In the event that it is judged that someone else pressures or forces the patient to resort to this request, a prison sentence of 14 years is imposed.

The proposed law excludes from the right to assisted dying people with mental health problems or a disability that affects decision-making.

Critics of the bill worry that safeguards for the most vulnerable patients may not be sufficient, a view Ms Ledbeater rejects.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer voted in favor of assisted suicide the last time it was proposed in the House of Commons, in 2015.

However, in more recent statements he had said that he has not decided how he will vote this time. “Obviously a lot will depend on the detail and we have to get the balance right, but I’ve always argued that there should be appropriate safeguards in place,” said Mr. Starmer.

Former Prime Minister David Cameron has supported the bill.