In London on February 11, lawmaker Kim Leadbeater announced that Britain's legislation for assisting terminally ill individuals would be revised to eliminate the requirement for approval from a High Court judge in each case.
Critics of assisted dying argue that removing this condition may compromise the safeguards designed to protect vulnerable individuals from coercion or undue influence to end their lives.
In a significant development three months ago, lawmakers supported the bill allowing assisted dying, setting the stage for Britain to join other nations like Australia, Canada, and some U.S. states in enacting a major social reform.
The "Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life)" bill, introduced by Labour's Leadbeater, advanced with 330 lawmakers in favor and 275 against in its initial vote.
The proposed change would grant mentally competent, terminally ill adults in England and Wales, with six months or less to live, the option to seek medical assistance to end their lives following approval from two doctors and a judge.
During the ongoing political review process, Leadbeater proposed replacing the High Court judge authorization with a panel of experts, including a senior legal professional, psychiatrists, and social workers, with a High Court review option as needed.
Leadbeater emphasized that involving experts from various fields provided "an extra layer of scrutiny" and strengthened the bill, noting that this adjustment was a positive step forward.
Public opinion polls indicate majority support for assisted dying among Britons, with advocates pressing for aligning the law with public sentiment. However, the bill still faces potential rejection as it progresses through both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.