Demonstrators, including members and supporters of Humanists UK, during a protest outside the Houses of Parliament (Photo: PA)
A survey shows that the majority of people in England and Wales want assisted dying to be legalized for terminally ill adults.
Of the more than 2,000 adults surveyed, about 63 percent support changing the law, just 20 percent oppose it and 17 percent are neutral or have no opinion.
The result is the latest in a long history of independent polls to show that current law does not meet public expectations.
A 2022 survey for the Express Give Us Our Last Rights crusade by Savanta ComRes found support for it at 75%.
And earlier this year, the UK's largest-ever poll on the topic, which involved more than 10,000 people, also found that 75 percent supported the change.
READ MORE: Kim Leadbeater welcomes 'light at the end of the tunnel' for assisted dying campaigners
Labor MP Kim Leadbeater will introduce the End of Life Choice Bill (Photo: PA)
The new findings come just days before Labor MP Kim Leadbeater is scheduled to introduce a private members' bill aimed at increasing choice at the end of life.
Her bill will be formally introduced in the House of Commons next Wednesday, followed by a second reading on November 29. It is expected to be an intense debate, followed by the first vote on assisted dying among MPs in almost 10 years.
If the bill passes second reading, it will proceed to committee stage, followed by further scrutiny in the House of Commons and House of Lords before a final vote on whether it should become law.
Professor Bobby Duffy, one of the experts behind the survey conducted by the Policy Institute and the Complex Life and Death Decisions Group at King's College London, said: “With two thirds of people surveyed saying they want assisted dying to be legal in this Parliament, it seems appropriate that the bill be presented and discussed by MPs and other parliamentarians.
“Proponents cite many valid reasons for wanting assisted dying legalized, ranging from reducing pain and suffering after death, giving people more dignity and control over when and how they die, to avoiding the need to travel to other countries such as Switzerland. “
The study found that support remained “virtually the same”, so participants were provided with key details of major proposals for changes to the law that would only allow assisted dying for terminally ill adults who are mentally competent and in the last six months of life.
The most common reasons given by supporters were the desire to give people a less painful and distressing death (85 percent), the belief that giving people more dignity is important (83 percent), and the belief that people should be able to choose how and when they want to do so . dies (72%).
Support varied by age group, with 68 percent of over-35s supporting a change to the law in this parliament compared to half of 18-34-year-olds.
However, many participants also had reservations about the possible risks, even though they generally supported them.
Six in 10 expressed concerns that people were being pressured to seek assisted dying, and 48 percent said they would likely reconsider their position if someone's choice was motivated by a lack of access to other care.
Activists gathered outside parliament in April (Photo: Future Publishing via Getty Images)
The most concerned were the pressures on people with mental illness (43 percent), disability (34 percent), chronic pain or long-term health conditions (33 percent) and cognitive impairment (30 percent).
Meanwhile, 59 percent believe assisted dying should be available on the NHS if legalized, while 55 percent also support it being provided by private healthcare companies.
Study co-author Professor Gareth Owen said: “Whether one has strong views on assisted dying or not, data on the public's views on the choice now facing Westminster Parliament deserves compassion, respect and attention of parliamentarians and parliamentarians.
“Two-thirds of the population appears ready to change the law, but preferences may be volatile in light of moral complexities and imperfect access to care.”
Professor Katherine Sleeman added: “With the upcoming parliamentary vote on assisted dying, it is vital that the debate on assisted dying takes into account the complexities involved in implementing these types of reforms.
“This includes the implications of legalizing assisted dying in a context where many dying people have difficulty accessing the care they need.”
Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said next month's vote would be a “historic opportunity for MPs to listen to public sentiment and deliver real change for dying people and their families”.
She added: The ban on assisted dying forces terminally ill people to suffer despite the best care, spending their life savings on trips to Switzerland or taking matters into their own hands at home, while their relatives are often traumatized.
“(On Wednesday) MPs from all parties gathered to hear directly from the people and family members who witnessed this devastation with their own eyes. Their message was crystal clear: the ban on assisted dying must be abolished.”
Referring to a survey of 10,000 people commissioned by Dignity in Dying, Ms Wootton added: “Three quarters of the British public, from all parts of the country and from all walks of life, understand the urgent need to change the law around assisted dying.
“It would give dying people the right choice of how to die and introduce practical measures to assess eligibility, ensure rigorous medical supervision and robust monitoring of every part of the process.
“When Westminster comes to debate this Bill, MPs must remember that families across the country depend on them to do the right thing; vote for choice, for safety, compassion and dignity.”
