Assisted Suicide Debate - UK

Former health secretary Patricia Hewitt is urging MPs to change the law to allow people to take terminally ill patients abroad for assisted suicide.

The Labour MP has tabled an amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill which would protect them from prosecution.

The amendment which may be debated but not voted on at this stage, is not thought to have much chance of success.

Care Not Killing, which opposes assisted suicide, said the effect of Ms Hewitt's amendment would be "tragic".

BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said the government did not plan to change the law and the amendment, which has been signed by a handful of Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem MPs, was unlikely to pass.

http://www.carenotkilling.org.uk/

http://www.dignityindying.org.uk/