Instead, Ms Leadbeater proposes that a ‘voluntary assisted dying commission’ should be created to “introduce a multidisciplinary layer of protection.” This would be chaired by a High Court judge or former senior judge, so a judicial element would be retained.
These figures would suggest that the assisted dying bill won’t get through its final vote if the High Court is removed from the safeguarding process.
Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron added: “Lots of MPs voted for the bill at second reading in the expectation that there would be stronger safeguards added at committee stage and yet we now see that even the weak safeguards that existed, are being dropped.”.
Newly proposed changes to the assisted dying bill have caused controversy as MPs weigh up whether they will continue supporting the legislation at the final vote.
Put forward by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who tabled the original bill, the changes would reform a major safeguarding measure that was included in the original version.
