MPs and peers are calling for a Royal Commission into assisted dying, amid concerns it could be rushed into law.
It follows warnings that inadequate palliative care services could make people feel they have ‘a duty’ to end their life under the assisted dying Bill.
The proposed law – branded ‘a recipe for bad legislation’ by Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick – would legalise assisted dying for mentally competent, terminally ill adults.
However, there are cross-party calls for high-level experts to first examine the subject, as well as looking into palliative and social care, and ethical questions such as whether young people should qualify for assisted suicide.
The Prime Minister has the power to set up a Royal Commission and it could be led by a judge. Parliament would then debate its findings.
MPs and peers are calling for a Royal Commission into assisted dying, amid concerns it could be rushed into law (stock image)
Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick branded the proposed law ‘a recipe for bad legislation’
Next month MPs will have a free vote on the Bill, tabled by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. The new proposal is designed to give them an ‘off-ramp’, allowing them to vote against it while not ruling out a potential change in the law.
Mr Jenrick, Tory MP Sir John Whittingdale, Labour MP Rachel Maskell, independent MP Rosie Duffield, Baroness Finlay, Lord Strathclyde, Baroness Porter, Lord Gascoigne and Lord Banner are among those who have expressed support for the plan.
Baroness Finlay said: ‘An independent commission is needed to sort out palliative care services so people have real choices, [and are] not driven to feel they are a burden and have a duty to die.’
Meanwhile, Ms Maskell said: ‘Assisted dying is an area which a private members’ bill has consistently shown to be inadequate to address, not least as palliative care is significantly inequitable to access and underfunded.’
Last week, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he will oppose the Bill over concerns about the state of NHS end-of-life care.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood also said she will vote against it.
The last Royal Commission was held in 1999. It looked into the reform of the House of Lords and took 11 months to conclude.