THE assisted dying Bill could still be voted down, critics have said.
Tory MP Danny Kruger hopes it will be dropped because so many MPs were uneasy over the disputed legislation.
The proposed law cleared its first hurdle after MPs voted 330 to 275 at its second reading on Friday.
But Mr Kruger said: “This is not the end, it’s just the beginning.”
He said it could still be voted down at the third reading if MPs are not satisfied with improvements next year.
He added: “There’s a very strong sense that it’s not over – which is very encouraging.
There are a few dozen people who could change their minds if they are not happy with how the bill looks. This means that the decisions are not final, despite what the opposing side claims.
Sobbing in the chamber
Mr. Kruger emphasized the importance of having many safeguards in place. He pointed out concerns such as doctors suggesting assisted death for individuals who do not actually desire it, as well as judges overseeing proceedings in secret without investigating any potential coercion or influence on the patient.
One MP said she had been in tears all week and sobbed in the chamber over some of the speeches.
Another added: “It’s been an emotional rollercoaster.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer was one of the supporters of the proposal. This initiative would give terminally ill adults with a life expectancy of less than six months the option to end their lives.
Some MPs indicated during the debate they could drop their support if they are not convinced of the safeguards.
MPs on both sides of the debate have called for improvements to palliative care.
Charity Hospice UK said some hospices would ask for a conscientious objection to assisted dying.
And senior doctors said the struggling palliative care system must be an immediate priority for the government.
The UK is often held up as having the best palliative care in the world – but that is not the case any longer
Dr Sarah Cox
The Association for Palliative Medicine says there is a risk the funding needed to pay for doctors and the courts to oversee assisted dying could divert money away from care for the dying.
“The UK is often held up as having the best palliative care in the world – but that is not the case any longer. We are not getting the funding we need,” Dr Sarah Cox told the BBC.
The Bill will next go to committee stage, where MPs can table amendments, before it faces votes in the Commons and Lords.
Any change in the law would not be agreed until next year at the earliest.
Kim Leadbeater, who led the bill, has said it would likely be a further two years from then for an assisted dying service to be in place.
