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MPS are set to vote on a proposed new
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law which could see terminally ill
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people granted the right to have
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assistance in ending their life assisted
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dying as it's known is of course a
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hugely sensitive and potentially
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controversial topic so MPS have been
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given what's known as a free vote on the
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subject but what does that mean and how
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could the law change in this area
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typically in the Commons MPS vote along
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party lines or are whipped this is what
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gives the government power to get their
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laws through Parliament if you have the
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most MPS your bills will pass this bill
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titled the terminally ill adults end of
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life bill was brought to Parliament as a
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private members bill by labor MP Kim
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leadbeater a PMB means the MP is not a
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government Minister and has been drawn
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in a ballot to propose their own
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legislation usually MPS are whipped as
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normal but not in this case and can vote
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with their conscience however there are
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certain differences as to how this type
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of Bill is scrutinized by the house
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including not being able to summon oral
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or written evidence unless specifically
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and some MPS are concerned about a
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serious law change like assisted dying
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potentially being passed in this way so
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how could the law change suicide or
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attempted suicide are not criminal
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offenses but assisting someone to end
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their life is illegal under the terms of
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1961 you could face up to 14 years in
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prison lead Beer's Bill aims to allow
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adults aged 18 and over who have mental
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capacity are terminally ill and in the
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final six months of their life to
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request assistance from a doctor to end
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their life they would have to live in
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England or Wales and have separate
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assessments from two doctors before
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applying to the high court for approval
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of their request these safeguards would
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be intended to ensure the person has a
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clear settled and informed wish to end
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their own life and that their decision
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is voluntary and free from coercion or
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pressure after a twoe wait and a second
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Declaration of intent a doctor could
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then prescribe a life-ending approved
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substance which must be taken by the
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patient themselves Anyone Who provided
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assistance in accordance with the bill
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would not face any liability although
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the offense would continue to apply if
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their actions fell outside the Bill's
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framework how could MPS vote the debate
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over the bill has been intense given the
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nature of the subject while cabinet
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ministers were asked to remain neutral
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some including Health secretary W
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streeting have said they would vote
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against while culture secretary Lisa
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nandy and others have said they will
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back the bill the Prime Minister K
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Dharma has said he does not want to put
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pressure on MPS by indicating and adding
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to the conversation but on a previous
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vote on assisted dying in 2015 he
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supported a change in the law due to the
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free vote it is tricky to know how many
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MPS will vote for or against the bill
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the times has surveyed MPS and says that
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264 say they will vote for the bill with
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25 against and 26 exstension however
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with 145 MP's decisions still unknown
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the vote could still go either way what
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do you think of MPS being given a free
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vote on assisted dying let us know in
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the comments and follow City for more
