The Human Cost: A Dismaying Dialogue on Assisted Dying
Legislator justifies potential human consequences of dying aid legislation following impact analysis
The human toll behind the proposed Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has been emphasized by its creator, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. The impact assessment for this bill was released recently, detailing potential costs and applications.
This bill is set for a debate in the Commons on May 16th. The impact assessment offers an insight into the predicted number of individuals who might opt for assisted dying, as well as the estimated costs and savings related to this service.
"Assisted dying and giving people the choice at the end of their life when they're facing a terminal illness is about the human cost. It's not about pounds and pence," said Leadbeater in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Leadbeater believes that the bill provides the most robust legislation in this area globally. In terms of cost, she mentioned that setting up the service would incur expenses, but there would be associated savings as well due to the model being in place.
The impact assessment suggests that assisted dying could potentially cut end-of-life care costs by up to £10 million in the first year and almost £60 million after a decade. However, it's important to note that these numbers are not a precise prediction of what will happen.
Palliative care professor Katherine Sleeman highlighted that these figures are estimates with a range of possible outcomes. She explained that the costs of care during the last months of life are very high, but these costs could decrease if someone does not live those last months due to an assisted death.
However, opposition to the bill exists. Dr. Gordon Macdonald, the chief executive of Care Not Killing, claimed that legalizing assisted dying could put pressure on vulnerable individuals to end their lives prematurely. The Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, also expressed concerns, stating that seeing cost savings set out in this manner could potentially make someone feel that they should pursue an assisted death instead of receiving care.
Leadbeater assured that her team is scrutinizing the legislation for any possibility of coercion. The High Court safeguard has been replaced with expert panels, and the implementation period has been doubled to a maximum of four years. The proposed legislation requires terminally ill adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death following multiple medical assessments and cooling-off periods.
Critics have raised concerns about coercion risks, particularly financial pressures, but Leadbeater remains undeterred. She mentioned that she is in conversation with colleagues who previously voted against the bill but are now considering supporting it due to the strengthened safeguards.
By Helen Corbett and Aine Fox, PA
Enrichment Data:
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in England and Wales estimates 164–787 assisted deaths in its first year, rising to 1,042–1,533 annually in subsequent years, according to the government’s impact assessment[5]. While direct service costs are unspecified, reduced end-of-life care expenses could save millions, though exact figures remain unquantified due to variability in individual circumstances[4][5].
Proposed Safeguards:
The bill requires individuals to:- Be aged 18+, registered with a GP in England/Wales, and expected to die within six months from an incurable condition[2].- Demonstrate decision-making capacity and confirm their choice voluntarily without coercion[2].- Undergo multiple medical assessments and a cooling-off period (specific duration unspecified in current documents)[2][5].
Legislative Evolution:
As a private member’s bill led by Kim Leadbeater MP, the government remains neutral[4]. The latest amendments post-committee stage (details unspecified) aim to refine eligibility and procedural safeguards, though critics like Baroness Grey-Thompson warn of potential coercion risks, particularly financial pressures on families[5]. The bill is scheduled for Report Stage debate on 16 May 2025[1]. Key unresolved issues include secondary legislation specifics (e.g., cooling-off period duration, appeal processes) and monitoring mechanisms to prevent abuse[4][5].
- Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, the creator of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, emphasized the human cost behind the proposed legislation during a discussion with BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
- According to the government’s impact assessment, the first year of the bill's implementation in England and Wales could see 164–787 assisted deaths, with annual figures escalating to 1,042–1,533 in subsequent years.
- The impact assessment also suggests that assisted dying could potentially cut end-of-life care costs by up to £10 million in the first year and almost £60 million after a decade, although these numbers are not exact due to the variability in individual circumstances.
- Katherine Sleeman, a palliative care professor, highlighted that these figures are estimates with a range of possible outcomes.
- Opposition to the bill exists, with concerns being raised about coercion risks, particularly financial pressures, but Leadbeater and her team are scrutinizing the legislation for any possibility of coercion.
- The proposed legislation requires terminally ill adults to demonstrate decision-making capacity, confirm their choice voluntarily without coercion, undergo multiple medical assessments, and observe a cooling-off period, with the exact duration yet to be specified in current documents.
