MPs Remove High Court Oversight from Assisted Dying Bill

The controversial decision replaces judicial approval with a proposed expert panel, raising concerns over safeguards for vulnerable individuals.

The committee overseeing the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill voted 15 to 7 to eliminate the requirement for High Court judges to approve assisted dying applications.
The judicial safeguard, previously hailed as a critical protection, would be replaced by a three-member panel comprising a lawyer, a psychiatrist, and a social worker.
Proponents argue the panel offers a more patient-centered approach with diverse expertise, while critics claim it weakens protections and creates an unaccountable system.
Concerns have been raised about the panel's lack of direct patient interaction and the potential for it to function as a rubber-stamping body.
The bill will return to the House of Commons for further debate and a vote, likely in late April, with some MPs reconsidering their support due to the removal of judicial oversight.