Dame Esther Rantzen has welcomed the publication of a “wonderful” assisted dying Bill described as the safest in the world.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s legislation seeks to introduce assisted dying only for terminally ill adults with fewer than six months to live.
Parliamentarians now have three weeks to scrutinise the 40-page Bill ahead of a second reading on November 29.
Dame Esther, who has terminal lung cancer, said that “unless my miracle drug turns out to be totally miraculous and gives me a couple more years of life” she is not likely to live long enough to see the Bill become law.
But the veteran broadcaster, 84, went on: “I’m amazed and thrilled to have lived long enough to hear the debate on this deeply sensitive issue.
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“I wish I could be in the public gallery of the Commons to witness it, it will be such a landmark life and death moment but sadly my health won’t allow me to be there.
“I’ll certainly be glued to my television with my fingers firmly crossed that the vote will go the way the vast majority of the public want, and have waited for so long.”
Ms Leadbeater’s proposal says that anyone requesting an assisted death must be assessed by two independent doctors and, where necessary, undergo an assessment of mental capacity.
The application must then go before a High Court judge who should hear from at least one of the doctors and may question the patient or anybody else they consider appropriate.
At least seven days must elapse between the two doctors’ assessments and a further 14 days after the judge has made a ruling, unless death is imminent.
Applicants found eligible will also have to self-administer the life-ending medication.
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Ms Leadbeater said she believed the Bill - backed by the Express Give Us Our Last Rights crusade - was “the best possible legislation” with “the strictest safeguards anywhere in the world”.
She added: “It has been nearly a decade since the Commons last voted on the issue and it could easily be as long before they get another opportunity, so I was determined to get this right.
“I have consulted widely with medical and legal experts, the palliative care and hospice sectors, disability rights activists and faith leaders and have heard from many, many people with their own personal experience of why the current law is not fit for purpose.“
Dame Esther congratulated the MP for her compassion, hard work and courage in taking on this crucial issue.
And she said Ms Leadbeater’s sister, the murdered MP Jo Cox, would be “incredibly proud”.
The Childline founder added: “And thank you to all those who campaigned, and signed the petition in the Express, and shared their own tragic stories of the agonising deaths of those they loved, reliving so many painful memories.”
Addressing her campaign’s opponents, Dame Esther asked them to consider whether they would want their loved ones to be left with painful and traumatic memories of bad deaths.
She added: “I wish better for everyone, that this new Bill will give you the right to choose, not to shorten your own lives but to shorten your death.”
Assisted Dying Bill | Daily Express stance
The Government will remain neutral on MP Kim Leadbeater's Private Member's Bill when it faces a second reading on November 29, but the Daily Express supports efforts to change the Assisted Dying law and to give those who are terminally ill greater choice.
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