Assisted dying

Regardless of the rights or wrongs of assisted suicide, the Assisted Dying Bill as currently drafted is “highly unsatisfactory”, say Khawar Qureshi QC and Catriona Nicol writing in NLJ this week. They say the Bill needs significant amendment to protect vulnerable individuals by strengthening the eligibility criteria, particularly in relation to capacity, and ensuring that appropriate monitoring systems are in place. Moreover, “serious consideration” should be given to whether responsibility for decisions should rest with the medical profession or pass to the judiciary, which is accustomed to making the appropriate enquiries.