An all-party parliamentary committee in Ireland is to recommend that legislation be introduced to allow for assisted dying if a person has a terminal illness or has only a short time to live.
A majority on the Oireachtas committee on assisted dying supported the proposal that the law be changed to allow someone to get assistance to end their life if they have between six and 12 months to live.
The legislation would apply to people who have been diagnosed with an illness or a medical condition that is “incurable, irreversible, progressive” and at an advanced stage that will cause death within six months.
It is expected that the time limit for those with a neurodegenerative condition would be extended to 12 months.
The committee’s report is to be published on 20 March but has now been agreed by a majority of representatives from all sides of the Irish parliament. After its publication it will go to government for further consideration.
It is unclear whether the three-party coalition government led by Leo Varadkar is prepared to introduce legislation to enact the recommendation before a general election expected this autumn.
If it does, Ireland will join other countries including Switzerland, Belgium, Canada and the Netherlands in allowing assisted dying under certain circumstances.
It is understood that the proposed Irish legislation would require two doctors to sign off on a person’s incurable and life-threatening condition.
At hearings representatives of the Christian churches and a Muslim cleric voiced their opposition to the legislation, saying it was morally wrong to kill someone and was against God’s will.
Some psychiatrists also argued it could lead to “a slippery slope” with increasing numbers seeking to end their lives.
But the committee’s recommendation has been welcomed by the chair of the advocacy group End of Life Ireland.
Janie Lazar said: “We’ve been working hard to get people talking about assisted dying and about the choices that should be available to those who have no time to wait or waste.”
Constitutional law experts say they are confident that the committee’s recommendation would not require a referendum but a simple law change.
Nathan Stilwell, assisted dying campaigner for Humanists UK, welcomed the “bold move”, comparing it favourably with the debate in Britain where a report by MPs last month did not recommend a vote on the issue.
“Well done to the Irish special Oireachtas committee on assisted dying for taking an evidence-based and compassionate approach. It’s brilliant to see such a bold move after just a week ago a Westminster committee did not vote for any change in the law,” said Stilwell.
