An assisted suicide Bill was presented in the House of Lords yesterday as sponsor Lord Falconer attempts to change the current ban on the practice for the seventh time.

While the Bill’s details have not yet been released, it is likely to be similar to one of Lord Falconer’s previous assisted suicide bills.

Private Members’ Bills rarely become law and are even less likely to become law when they have started in the House of Lords.

They are, however, an opportunity to raise the profile of a particular issue and can therefore indirectly influence Government-backed legislation.