Pros and cons of legalising assisted dying

Assisted dying law thrown into doubt after its main backer agrees to postpone its implementation

Triptych of a setting sun
Euthanasia is a controversial issue for legislatures worldwide
(Image credit: Illustration by Stephen Kelly / Getty Images)

A new assisted dying law for England and Wales could take up to four years to fully implement, raising concern among supporters that it may never pass.

The controversial Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would make it legal for people who are over 18 and terminally ill to receive assistance to end their life, passed a second reading in November after MPs were given a free vote.

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Richard Windsor is a freelance writer for The Week Digital. He began his journalism career writing about politics and sport while studying at the University of Southampton. He then worked across various football publications before specialising in cycling for almost nine years, covering major races including the Tour de France and interviewing some of the sport’s top riders. He led Cycling Weekly’s digital platforms as editor for seven of those years, helping to transform the publication into the UK’s largest cycling website. He now works as a freelance writer, editor and consultant.