A need for a High Court judge to decide on assisted dying cases could be scrapped amid growing concerns over new legislation.
Psychiatrists and social workers are set to be involved in approving assisted dying applications under proposals aimed at improving safeguards under a new law.
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Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, is expected to bring forward amendments for a so-called "judge plus" system after hearing concerns during expert evidence sessions last month.
A group of 23 MPs is preparing to undertake line-by-line scrutiny of the proposed legislation from Tuesday, with the process expected to last weeks.
As it stands, the Bill could mean terminally ill adults in England and Wales with under six months to live are legally allowed to end their lives, subject to approval by two doctors and a High Court judge.
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Ms Leadbeater had already argued the High Court approval element makes her proposed legislation the strictest in the world.
She has now proposed a judge-led Voluntary Assisted Dying Commission that she said would give a greater role for experts, including psychiatrists and social workers, in overseeing applications.
Follow all the latest news live from Westminster below.
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8 hours ago08:21 Katie Harris
Leadbeater insists her change would not move assisted dying process behind closed doors
Asked by BBC Radio 4's Today programme if the proposed new process for approving assisted dying could lead to it being done in private, Kim Leadbeater replied: "It wouldn't be done in private, it would be taking into account patient confidentiality but there would be public proceedings.
"And actually, I think it's really difficult to suggest that by having three experts involved in this extra layer of scrutiny that is somehow a change for the worse."
Experts who sit on the panel would not be selected based on whether they support assisted dying, she signalled, adding: "There would be a very strict recruitment procedure for people to sit on these panels, and they would not be there in a personal capacity. They would be there in a professional capacity to do their job."
Asked if the amendment was a sign she was watering down the Bill, Ms Leadbeater replied: "I would say this is exactly what the process is designed to do, and the purpose of having such a comprehensive Bill committee procedure hearing from over 50 witnesses.
"What's the point of having witnesses if we don't listen to them, and we don't listen to the expertise that they provide?"
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8 hours ago07:59 Katie Harris
Leadbeater argues proposals will strengthen bill
The assisted dying Bill will be strengthened by plans to introduce an expert panel into the process, the MP sponsoring the law change has said.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater is expected to bring forward amendments for a so-called "judge plus" system which will see a panel including psychiatrists and social workers involved in approving assisted dying applications, after hearing concerns during expert evidence sessions last month.
Ms Leadbeater told BBC Breakfast she had received emails from people suggesting the addition was making the process more difficult, but added: "I would push back on that and say this has to be robust. This is a huge change, if it goes through and there is a change in the law.
"So I think by adding these extra safeguards, adding the extra multidisciplinary expertise, all headed by a High Court judge, that is a real improvement to the Bill."
She added the experts would examine "the two key issues that keep coming up in this debate, the issue of assessing capacity and the issue of checking for coercion."
Ms Leadbeater said: "By adding that extra expertise, I can only see that this is a strengthening of the Bill."
9 hours ago07:47 Katie Harris
MPs criticise assisted dying amendment
A number of MPs posted on social media criticising the proposals to replace High Court judge approval with an expert panel.
Labour MP Diane Abbott posted on X saying: "Safeguards on the Assisted Dying Bill are collapsing. Rushed, badly thought out legislation. Needs to be voted down."
Conservative shadow work and pensions minister Danny Kruger wrote: "Approval by the High Court - the key safeguard used to sell the Assisted Suicide Bill to MPs - has been dropped.
"Instead, we have a panel, NOT including a judge, of people committed to the process, sitting in private, without hearing arguments from the other side. A disgrace"
Lib Dem MP Tim Farron added: "Lots of MPs voted for the bill at 2nd reading in the expectation that there would be stronger safeguards added at committee stage... and yet we now see that even the weak safeguards that existed, are being dropped."
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9 hours ago07:31 Katie Harris
Replace High Court judge approval with expert panel - Leadbeater
The MP behind the assisted dying Bill has proposed replacing the need for High Court judge approval with an expert panel in a move she argues would strengthen a new law.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater is expected to bring forward amendments for a so-called "judge plus" system after hearing concerns during expert evidence sessions last month.
MPs opposed to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill said the new proposals weaken safeguards, not strengthen them.
A group of 23 MPs is preparing to undertake line-by-line scrutiny of the proposed legislation from today, with the process expected to last weeks.
As it stands, the Bill could see terminally ill adults in England and Wales with under six months to live legally allowed to end their lives, subject to approval by two doctors and a High Court judge.
Ms Leadbeater had said the High Court approval element made her legislation the strictest in the world.
She has now proposed a judge-led Voluntary Assisted Dying Commission that she said would give a greater role to experts, including psychiatrists and social workers, in overseeing applications.
The commission would be led by a High Court judge or a senior former judge and receive all applications and reports from two independent doctors, which would then be referred to a three-member panel chaired by what has been described as a senior legal figure.
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