An ‘Assisted Dying’ bill was published yesterday in the UK to enable doctors to help terminally ill adults to kill themselves. Critics point out that when euthanasia is introduced, the grounds for it constantly expand pointing to examples like Canada, Belgium and Netherlands.

MPs will debate and vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on 29 November.

The bill would require those who apply for assisted suicide to be over the age of 18, a resident in England and Wales and registered with a GP for at least 12 months. It also requires they have the mental capacity to make a choice about ending their life; and express a “clear, settled and informed” wish, free from coercion or pressure, at every stage of the process.

The legislation will require two independent doctors to determine whether the person satisfies the criteria to take their own life. According to legal expert, Yuan Yi Zhu, one doctor can recommend the other and people seeking assisted suicide will be able to ‘shop around’ until they find two doctors.

A judge will also take evidence from at least one doctor, and could also question the terminally ill person before allowing self-administration of the medication.

The individual would be allowed to change their mind at any time, and no doctors would be obliged to take part in the process.

If all the criteria and safeguards are met, the substance to end someone’s life must be self-administered.