The proposed assisted dying bill for England and Wales reignites the debate about choice and ethics

LONDON (AP) — Details of one bill to legalize assisted dying have been published in England and Wales, reigniting debate on this controversial topic ahead of a vote in Parliament later this month.

The bill, published on Monday, proposes that terminally ill adults expected to live for less than six months can request and receive help to end their own lives, subject to safeguards and protections.

Opponents have raised concerns that the bill could result in people coming under pressure to end their lives.

But Labor MP Kim Leadbeater proposed the billsaid the law has built in robust safeguards and includes “three layers of scrutiny” – two doctors and a Supreme Court judge will have to sign off on any decision.

A debate and first vote on the bill is expected to take place on November 29.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday he will study the details of the bill and “will not put pressure on any Member of Parliament (MP) to vote one way or another.”

Here’s a look at what’s in the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill and the next steps:

What does the bill propose?

Under the draft legislation, only people over the age of 18 in England and Wales, who are expected to die within six months, can apply for assisted death.

They must have the mental capacity to make an end-of-life choice and will have to make two separate statements about their death wish. Two independent doctors must ensure the person is eligible and a High Court judge will have to approve the decision.

Anyone found guilty of pressuring, coercing or unfairly getting them to make a statement that they want to die faces a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

Assisted suicide is currently banned in most parts of Britain. In Scotland it is not a specific criminal offence, but assisting the death of someone can result in a criminal prosecution.

Who will administer the medication?

The patient must administer the life-ending medication himself. No doctor or anyone else can give the medicines.

No healthcare provider has any obligation to provide assistance to the patient.

Doctors who do participate must be convinced that the person reporting the death has done so voluntarily. They must also ensure that the person makes an informed choice.

What happens next?

The bill will be debated in parliament and lawmakers will be able to vote on it according to their conscience, rather than along party lines.

Opinion among lawmakers appears divided, although some senior ministers, including Health Minister Wes Streeting, have said he planned to vote against the bill. Starmer has previously supported assisted dying, but the government says it will remain neutral on the issue.

If the bill passes the first stage in the House of Commons, it will be further examined and voted on in both Houses of Parliament. Leadbeater suggested that a new law is unlikely to come into force within the next two to three years.

Do other countries have similar laws?

One argument in support of the bill is that wealthy individuals can travel to Switzerland, allowing foreigners to go there to legally end their lives, while others may face prosecution for helping their loved ones die.

Other countries that have legalized assisted suicide include Australia, Belgium, Canada and parts of the United States, with rules on who is eligible varying by jurisdiction.

Assisted suicide is different from euthanasia, permitted in the Netherlands Canadawhere healthcare providers kill patients with a lethal injection at their request and under specific circumstances.