Campaigners for the landmark reform claimed that fewer than 1,000 terminally ill patients with less than six months to live would ask for help dying.

Kim Leadbeater, left, the Labour MP behind the bill, told reporters on Tuesday: ‘I think initially we’re probably talking in the hundreds, we’re not talking in the thousands.’

They also said doctors would not be paid for their roles in approving applications, and that High Court judges would quiz one of the medics rather than simply rubber-stamping the procedure and providing lethal medication.

‘The judge must hear from at least one of the certifying doctors so evidence is actually going to be called,’ said former Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Max Hill, who said the existing law provides ‘no safeguards, no rails, no guidance and leaves the vulnerable in a pitiful situation’.

Labour MP and consultant surgeon Peter Prinsley said: ‘Older MPs are more inclined to support this, and younger MPs are less inclined. We have a lot of new young MPs so I’m not as confident of this thing passing as I was before I started having these conversations.’

He added that because the crucial second reading is on a Friday when MPs often return to their constituencies across the UK, many may miss the vote.

‘I don’t think that abstaining, which people may be tempted to do, is a neutral act. I think that people need to make a decision about this.’

New concerns were also raised after the 38-page Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was finally published late on Monday night, less than three weeks before the Commons debate.

It emerged that doctors will be allowed to broach the topic of assisted suicide with patients even if they have not mentioned it themselves.

And anyone who wants help dying will be allowed to ‘shop around’ until they find a medic who will sign off their application if their first choice is unable or unwilling to do the job.

They will also be able to get a ‘proxy’ to sign their declaration that they have a wish to die if they have a ‘physical impairment’ or are ‘unable to read’.

And a doctor will be allowed to ‘prepare’ the fatal dose or ‘assist that person to ingest’ it, although the dying person must take the ‘final act’.

Veteran Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh said: ‘This is one of the longest Private Members’ Bills ever but was only published last night. MPs will have only five hours to debate it.

‘The promised safeguards do nothing to prevent the abuses we’ve seen in Canada. Vulnerable people need our protection. This bill is not the answer.’

Tory MP Danny Kruger added: ‘The Bill imposes an obligation on the NHS to ensure everyone has access to this great new service. There’s already an obligation on the NHS to provide palliative care for all – an obligation it fails to meet.

‘Do you think, when assisted suicide is so much cheaper than palliative care – so much cheaper than hospital care itself – this is an obligation the system will duck? Or do you think the system will do its duty, and help as many people as possible enjoy the ‘last right’?’

A new survey  finds that 70 per cent of people in England support a change in the law, with just 14 per cent opposed.

Polling led by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics found that 70 per cent believed assisted dying should be available to the terminally ill who have less than six months to live.

• An Assisted Dying Bill is currently being promoted in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood promoted by the Orkney Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur. Dumbarton’s recently elected Labour MP will have a vote on this important matter and later Dame Jackie Baillie, the Dumbarton MSP, will be able to vote on it in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.

66 per cent of Catholics don’t agree with their bishops on assisted dying, Liberal MSP Liam McArthur claims

November 16, 2024

Responding to a statement from the Catholic Bishops of England, Wales and Scotland opposing assisted dying legislation, despite public polling suggesting 66% of Scots Catholics are supportive of a change in the law, Liam McArthur MSP, pictured right,  said:

“While I appreciate the bishops wish to contribute to this important debate, I would note that many of their flock feel differently on this issue. The public polling is consistent across age range, disability status, geographic area and religious belief: Scots want a change in the law to allow terminally ill people the choice of an assisted death.

“I am confident that my proposals represent a robust and well safeguarded bill, allowing Scots access to the choice of an assisted death if they have an advanced, progressive terminal illness and the mental capacity to make the decision.

“The recent report from the House of Commons’ Health and Social Care Committee noted that in the evidence they received they “did not see any indications of palliative and end-of-life care deteriorating in quality or provision following the introduction of [assisted dying]; indeed the introduction of [assisted dying] has been linked with an improvement in palliative care in several jurisdictions”. Holyrood’s own Health and Social Care Committee heard very similar evidence as recently as last week.

“Likewise protections in the bill ensure that no doctor or medical professional will be compelled to take part. In a bill that underscores choice, that is entirely appropriate.

“It is time to provide that compassionate choice for terminally ill Scots.”