MPs Remove High Court Approval from Assisted Dying Bill

A proposed expert panel will replace judicial oversight, sparking debate over safeguards and accountability.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill no longer requires High Court judges to approve assisted dying applications, following a committee vote of 15 to 7.
The proposed replacement is a three-member expert panel consisting of a senior legal figure, a psychiatrist, and a social worker, overseen by a voluntary assisted dying commissioner.
Supporters of the change argue the panel provides specialized expertise and addresses concerns about judicial resource constraints.
Opponents criticize the removal of judicial oversight, claiming it weakens protections for vulnerable individuals and creates accountability concerns.
The bill will return to the House of Commons for further debate and a vote, likely at the end of April, following continued line-by-line scrutiny.