ASSISTED suicide will be debated in Parliament for the first time in 15 years.
MPs will vote on guidelines for assisted suicide on March 27.
The full-day debate will be held in the House of Commons and MPs will decide whether they agree with the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) policy on assisted suicide, which has been in place since February, 2010. Last month, Patricia Morris, Baroness Morris of Bolton, told the House of Lords the current law combines “deterrence with compassion” and should not be changed.
The Conservative baroness’s thoughts have been echoed by former Labour MP for Bolton South East, Dr Brian Iddon.
Dr Iddon, who is still involved in the Care Not Killing Alliance, said he believed the group would have a “battle on its hands” this year to preserve the current law.
He predicted that a Bill would be brought to the House of Commons, following the Queen’s Speech to Parliament.
Dr Iddon said the group was happy with the current law, although he said it was currently very difficult for the DPP to prosecute offenders.
The DPP policy sets out factors for and against prosecuting assisted suicide, and makes clear that prosecution is unlikely in cases of “compassionate amateur assistance” to die.
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