Assisted dying Bill lacks safeguards and could lead to secret hearings, warns retired High Court judge

Sir James Munby, holds a press conference on the day of his retirement as President of the Family Division, at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. - (PA)

The Assisted Dying Bill “falls lamentably short” on safeguards and could lead to secret court hearings, a retired High Court judge has warned.

In a major intervention, Sir James Munby, former president of the family division of the High Court, has criticised the practical implications of the proposed legislation, which is set to be debated by MPs at the end of November.