The Assisted Dying Bill: What happens next?

Here at Tithe Green Natural Burial, we believe strongly that death isn’t something to be spoken of in hushed tones – or even worse, ignored altogether.

So we’re glad that a public debate is being had around the subject as a result of the proposed Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – also known as the assisted dying bill – regardless of the pros and cons of the bill itself.

We’re not here to take a position on the matter – probably everyone will already have an opinion and very good reasons for holding it. But we do think this is an extremely important subject and it’s far better to discuss it openly so that individual positions can be fully understood and respected.

In this article, we just want to explain what the End of Life Bill involves, what needs to happen for it to become law, and when that might be.

What is the assisted dying bill?

Death comes in many forms and, unfortunately for far too many people, that can mean slowly and painfully.

For that reason, it has been proposed that those with a terminal diagnosis should – under very strict and tightly controlled conditions – be given help to end their life in such a way that it avoids what is seen as unnecessary suffering and loss of dignity.

The assisted dying bill was introduced to the House of Commons by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater in 2024, with MPs voting in favour on its first reading, although it will be subject to considerable further scrutiny.

It’s important to note that while doctors would assist a patient by preparing the substance used to end a life, any dose would be self-administered so that no one would ever be asked to actually kill anyone else.

What is included in the proposed bill?

There are several conditions that would need to be met for someone to be allowed to legally be assisted with taking their own life. These include:

• The person in question should be at least 18 years old, live in England or Wales and have been registered with a GP for at least 12 months.
• They should have the mental capacity to make such a decision and have expressed a clear wish to be allowed to die, free from coercion or pressure.
• They would be otherwise expected to die within six months.
• Two independent doctors are satisfied that the patient satisfies all conditions.

The original proposal also included the requirement for a High Court judge to sign off any request. However, Kim Leadbeater has since proposed instead that this should be done by a panel comprising several legal and medical professionals with a broader range of expertise.

When will the bill become law?

Under the current timetable, the bill could return to the Commons in April 2025, at which point any proposed amendments to the original legislation would be discussed and voted on ahead of further scrutiny in both legislative houses.

However, clearing that next hurdle has become less certain following Kim Leadbeater’s amendment. Some MPs have said that they only initially voted in favour because of the requirement for a High Court judge to sign off a request. They are worried that there is not enough time to thoroughly study the proposed alternative before being asked to vote on it.

If the bill does get through all the stages it needs to – which is by no means a given – it is unlikely to become law until at least 2027.

Just as important as talking about how we die is telling friends and family what we would like to happen to us afterwards. Here at Tithe Green Natural Burial, we’re proud to offer an eco-friendly and – usually – more affordable alternative to the traditional options.

If you’d like to know more about natural burial and what it means, then please get in touch with us, because we’d love to hear from you.