House of Lords debate assisted dying bill

An assisted dying bill proposed by former Labour Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer is to be debated in the House of Lords today.

The Bill proposes allowing doctors to prescribe a lethal dose to terminally ill patients judged to have less than six months to live.

Around 130 peers, including former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey who said he supported new legislation on the issue, are set to take part in the debate which is expected to last 10 hours.

A survey conducted for ITV's Tonight programme found 70% would support allowing assisted dying under the framework outlined by the Assisted Dying Bill

Read: Terminally ill ex-Oftsed chief admits: 'I considered starving myself to death'

A group of peers opposed to moves to legalise assisted dying legislation have pledged not to vote against a bill in the House of Lords on Friday. They believe further parliamentary scrutiny will expose the law's flaws.

The legislation tabled by Lord Falconer, proposes allowing doctors to prescribe a lethal dose to terminally ill patients with less than six months to live.

Watch Tonight: Assisted Dying - For and Against on Thursday at 7.30pm on ITV.

Read: Ex-schools chief: I considered starving myself to death

Read: Large majority of Britons support assisted dying

The Church of England will have to continue wrestling with the topic of assisted suicide, the Speaker's chaplain to the House of Commons told ITV News, as the church is to hold a key meeting today. Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin said:

Read: Desmond Tutu latest religious figure to back right-to-die

Desmond Tutu has become the latest high-profile figure to come out in favour of a change in the law on the right-to-die.

Writing in the Observer, the former Anglican bishop said he reveres "the sanctity of life - but not at any cost."

His comments come after the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey said the case of locked-in sufferer Tony Nicklinson inspired him to change his mind on the issue.

A Bill to legalise assisted dying will be debated in the House of Lords next week.

The former Archbishop of Canterbury's decision to support legalising assisted suicide is a "step in the right direction", the widow of locked-in syndrome sufferer Tony Nicklinson has told ITV News.

Jane Nicklinson said: "I think the fact that [Lord Carey] has come out and said his feelings have changed, a lot more in the church will come out".

Church of England members remain against any change in the laws surrounding assisted suicide, the Bishop of Carlisle told ITV News, after the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey dropped his long-standing opposition.

Right Reverend James Newcome, who is also the lead bishop for the Church of England on healthcare, said: "We reckon that the compassion that Lord Carey talks about, which we share absolutely, needs to be extended to them [most vulnerable people]".

Read: Former Archbishop of Canterbury backs right-to-die

The current Archbishop of Canterbury has spoken out against the "mistaken and dangerous" bill that could soon legalise assisted dying.

Writing in the Times (behind paywall), Most Rev Justin Welby said the Assisted Dying Bill - due to be debated in the House of Lords - would leave a "sword of Damocles" hanging over the heads of elderly people if it passed into law.

The Archbishop said a GCSE religious education examiner would "take a dim view" of the arguments supporting the bill, and added that any new law could leave vulnerable people at risk.

“Abuse, coercion and intimidation can be slow instruments in the hands of the unscrupulous, creating pressure on vulnerable people who are encouraged to ‘do the decent thing,” he said.

Read: Former Archbishop of Canterbury backs right-to-die