Chris Whitty shares fears over rushing to meet ‘firm deadline’ for assisted dying
Chris Whitty shares fears over rushing to meet ‘firm deadline’ for assisted dying
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England’s chief medical officer rejected the idea of a deadline as he gave evidence to a committee of MPs led by Kim Leadbeater, the Labour backbencher who proposed the legislation. England’s chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty has warned ministers not to rush in a proposed new assisted dying service - as he cautioned against any “firm deadline”.
![[Kim Leadbeater’s proposed law to legalise assisted dying passed its first test in the Commons before Christmas (Ben Whitley/PA)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/22/15/d475fe84febc8ddbaed6ea8a137e4b11Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3NjQ0MzEw-2.77757070.jpg)
Asked about the prospect of implementing the policy within two years, he told MPs: “I would prefer this was not running against a timeline.”. He described 24 months as a “reasonable starting point”, but added: “This is something best not done at speed if we can avoid it.”.
A firm deadline risked making it “much harder to provide a safe, fair and secure service”, he warned. Campaigners have claimed the proposed law is being rushed through at the expense of elderly and disabled people. On Tuesday Ellen Clifford, co-ordinator of the UK Deaf and Disabled People’s Monitoring Coalition, warned: "Something of this magnitude has to go at a much slower pace.".
Mr Whitty was giving evidence to a committee of 23 MPs led by Kim Leadbeater, the Labour backbencher who proposed the legislation, which passed its second reading in the Commons before Christmas. In his evidence, Mr Whitty also warned it would be "extremely difficult" to have a list of illnesses that would apply under the proposed legislation.
