On Friday, 18 July, Lord Falconer’s Assisted Dying Bill was officially debated in the House of Lords. The discussion lasted nearly 10 hours, and ultimately passed its second reading without a vote.
Lord Falconer opened the debate, by emphasising the safeguards of his proposed law, as well as why the system needed to be changed. He stated: “The courts have said repeatedly – the current law does not work.”
The Lords were split nearly equally in relation to opinion regarding the bill, with emotional and personal testimonials coming from both sides of the debate.
The Assisted Dying Bill, if passed, would allow doctors to prescribe a lethal dose of medication to patients of sound mind and judged to have less than six months to live.
The discussion in the House of Lords follows the Supreme Court’s decision to pass the case to Parliament.
