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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Kate Devlin

Esther Rantzen hits out at peers over assisted dying bill: ‘Blatant sabotage’

  • Dame Esther Rantzen has accused peers of "blatant sabotage" after the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, an assisted dying proposal, appeared likely to fail in the House of Lords.
  • She criticised a "handful of peers" for tabling 1,200 amendments, which she believes are intended to block the legislation rather than scrutinise it.
  • The bill, which would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live to apply for an assisted death, must complete all parliamentary stages before May to become law.
  • Lord Falconer, another supporter, suggested the bill could still pass using the rare Parliament Act, which allows legislation backed by MPs to override the Lords' rejection.
  • In contrast, Jersey's States Assembly has voted to legalise assisted dying, with legislation now awaiting royal assent, allowing doctors or nurses to administer lethal drugs.

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