The House of Lords has raised concerns that the assisted dying Bill may not pass into law due to an unprecedented number of proposed changes. Widow Louise Shackleton, who attended the debate, expressed astonishment at the proceedings in the Lords.
Nearly 1,000 amendments have been suggested for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by members of the House of Lords, with seven opponents submitting a total of 579 amendments. This bill, which aims to withdraw the UK from the European Union, has accumulated a total of 820 proposed amendments.
Critics of the Bill accused the Lords of attempting to obstruct its progress, despite it having been approved by the Commons and now entering the committee stage in the Lords. Over 100 terminally ill individuals and bereaved families have written to Lords urging them to prioritize the voices of dying individuals as the Bill progresses.
Louise Shackleton, who faced legal uncertainty after accompanying her husband to Dignitas, criticized the Lords for what she perceives as obstructive tactics to impede the Bill’s advancement. She voiced her dismay at the behavior of some peers during her time in the House of Lords.
The debate on the Bill commenced with Ed, an 82-year-old diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, advocating for the right to choose assisted dying. Peers have begun scrutinizing the Bill line by line, with concerns raised by the Dignity in Dying group about potential deliberate delays.
Baroness Gisela Stuart highlighted numerous flaws in the current version of the Bill, suggesting that it may not be suitable for legislative approval in its current state. The fate of the Bill hinges on achieving consensus between the House of Commons and the Lords before the parliamentary session concludes in spring.
Campaigners fear that the Bill’s progress may be hindered by the influx of amendments in the House of Lords. A terminally ill music teacher expressed concerns about potential delays, emphasizing the urgency of passing the legislation for individuals experiencing unbearable pain.
The looming threat of the Bill facing obstructions in the Lords has sparked apprehension among supporters, including Nathaniel Dye, who emphasized the importance of timely legislative action. Nathaniel, battling stage 4 cancer, stressed the significance of allowing individuals the choice of dying peacefully.