Members of the House of Lords have debated whether the public will be adequately protected under plans to introduce assisted dying.
Supporters of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill said it contained necessary protections and would avert suffering that occurs under the “cruel, unworkable current system.” But opponents argued that safeguards in the bill were inadequate or poorly constructed, that scrutiny was being rushed, and that processes could be used to cover up medical mistakes.
The bill, which was backed by a majority of MPs in June,1 will legalise the right for terminally ill people in England and Wales to end their own life with medical assistance. As it stands, a person’s application will need to be supported by two doctors and approved by a panel consisting of a senior lawyer, a psychiatrist, and a social worker.
The House of Lords began a two day second reading …
