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Assisted dying is a contentious subject, so much so that a clear definition is yet to be universally agreed for the practice. Some describe it as a compassionate choice, allowing those who live in grave pain or suffering to end their life in dignity within a controlled environment; others describe it as unethical and against the core principles of human life. 

Assisted dying has remained illegal since the introduction of the Suicide Act in 1961, which made it against the law to assist anyone with ending their own life, including in controlled environments through assisted dying. However, recent changes in legislation by other countries have shown a trend towards legalising the practice – a change that now appears to be approaching England and Wales under the new Labour government.

Labour, along with Prime Minister Kier Starmer, has been vocal in its support for amendments to the law around assisted dying for some time. During the buildup to the recent general election, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and much of the Conservative Party also voiced support for change.

Proposed changes were last brought forward in 2015 through a bill in parliament, which was later rejected. However, since then, the general public’s opinion on the topic has swayed in favour of the practice, with more than 65% of the country now advocating for a reform to the law. However, many people remain sceptical of the introduction of assisted dying and worry that it could lead us down a ‘slippery slope’ into the lackadaisical ending of human life, as well as the potential exploitation of vulnerable groups.

Many such opposers point to the law in Canada, which legalised assisted dying in 2016 for those with a “serious and irreversible condition”. Since its introduction, the government had more recently planned to open the practice up to those who also suffer from mental health conditions – a plan that was met with much scepticism and pushback from experts and the public. This proposal has now been pushed back, but the government has yet to fully back down from it. Opposers to the introduction of assisted dying highlight this as an example of how the value of human life can soon be lost when allowing people to die via assisted dying.

Switzerland has long been known as a place where terminally ill people go to access assisted dying, with assisted suicide being legal there since 1941. Many high-profile examples of people choosing this way to end their life have been compared to tragic incidents in the United Kingdom. An example of a ‘mercy killing’ is Frances Inglis who ended the life of her son who was in a permanent vegetative state by injecting him with heroin. Many people have pointed to examples such as this to show why a compassionate way of dying is required in order to give people who live in pain or suffering a way to end their life with dignity. However, others have used such examples to highlight concern over the exploitation of vulnerable groups.

The changes in the law for assisted dying are very much a question of morals and personal values, and it’s almost impossible to find a correct moral or ethical answer. If you believe that people should have the option to relieve lifelong pain and suffering, then you’re likely to be in favour; if you believe in the sanctity of human life and maintaining its values then you’re likely to be opposed. However, as society moves towards a more moral and understanding viewpoint on much of its social issues, the introduction of assisted dying for those who are terminally ill appears to be more of a question of when rather than if.

In addition, the Green and Liberal Democrats have also voiced support for a change to the law, while Reform UK and its leader Nigel Farage is yet to take a stance on either side of the argument. With widespread support such as this in the House of Commons, it appears that the next bill that’s brought before parliament stands a strong chance of making its way into legislation within the near future.