Assisted dying Bill committee to hear from chief medical officer Chris Whitty
Assisted dying Bill committee to hear from chief medical officer Chris Whitty
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MPs scrutinising the assisted dying Bill will hear from England’s chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty as they meet for the first day of oral evidence on the proposed legislation. Sir Chris is one of about 50 witnesses who will give evidence across three days this week as a committee of 23 MPs prepares to look in detail at each part of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
The Bill could see terminally ill adults in England and Wales with under six months to live legally allowed to end their lives, subject to approval by two doctors and a High Court judge. Also due to appear on Tuesday are the chief nursing officer for England, Duncan Burton, and representatives from doctors’ union the British Medical Association (BMA) and regulator the General Medical Council (GMC).
In the afternoon, former director of public prosecutions Sir Max Hill, who has previously stated his support for the Bill, is due to appear as well as retired High Court judge Sir Nicholas Mostyn. Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the Bill, said the committee will hear from people with a “wide range of views” on the Bill, “some in favour in principle, others against, and many with a neutral stance”.
In a letter to MPs this week, she said: “However, they have been selected above all for their expertise and experience and the contribution they can make to help guide the committee towards whatever amendments may be needed to make the Bill as effective and workable as possible.
“I want to reassure colleagues that the whole committee is determined to work collaboratively and respectfully to reflect the very positive debate we had at second reading and to ensure that the best possible Bill is ready when it returns to the House at report stage later in the year.”.
