header-logo header-logo

28 February 2025 / Dr Graham Zellick CBE KC FAcSS
Issue: 8106 / Categories: Opinion , Human rights , Health
printer mail-detail

The Assisted Dying Bill: a different take

209440
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is not the seminal, fundamental reform it is said to be, argues Graham Zellick

We are repeatedly told, at least by its critics, that the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is the most important piece of legislation to come before Parliament for decades. On this basis, it has been suggested that it is being rushed; that the Bill is poorly drafted; that it should be a government Bill and not a Private Member’s Bill; that it is inescapably a slippery slope; that it exposes the vulnerable to great risk; and for all these reasons and others it should be resisted and rejected.

Given that assisted dying for the sick has been on the agenda for nearly a century and has been much discussed in Parliament and outside in recent years, the argument as to speed is risible. The drafting is actually rather impressive and if anything owes too much to anticipating and accommodating the

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Charles Russell Speechlys—James Paterson

Charles Russell Speechlys—James Paterson

Charles Russell Speechlys further bolsters Private Equity expertise with the appointment of James Paterson

Ellisons—Samuel Flower

Ellisons—Samuel Flower

Ellisons strengthens Rural Affairs team with senior appointment

Sidley—Carl Hotton

Sidley—Carl Hotton

Sidley adds insurance mergers and acquisitions partner to London office

NEWS
Consultant-led law firms should prepare for closer regulatory attention as oversight evolves
Artificial intelligence may draft workplace grievances, but employers cannot treat them any differently from conventional complaints
From dishonest claimants to judicial promotions and procedural skirmishes, the latest legal developments offer plenty for litigators to digest
Fresh guidance is set to influence how courts decide whether hearings take place online or in person
County Court judges remain divided over whether landlords can lawfully force entry to carry out essential safety inspections after tenants ignore access injunctions
back-to-top-scroll