Assisted dying bill 'flawed and dangerous' says Lowestoft MP, Jess Asato, as it progresses to next stage

An MP has said the assisted dying bill is 'flawed and dangerous' as it progresses to the next stage.

The bill, which sought to introduce assisted dying into UK law, has been at committee stage since January, giving MPs the opportunity to propose several amendments to its text — 29 such debates were held.

But Jess Asato, Lowestoft MP, said the bill was 'irredeemably flawed and not fit to become law'.

In a letter to Government signed by several Labour MPs, she said: "The promise made at second reading that it would be strengthened in committee stage has not been kept, and not only have vital safeguards been removed from the bill, but significant new risks have also emerged."

Ms Asato voted against the bill when it was introduced.

With the committee stage's conclusion, the bill is now ready to progress to the report stage, when all MPs will be able to speak, vote and suggest amendments which have been examined in committee.

The report stage is scheduled for April 25.

In the letter, MPs outlined several key aspects they were not happy with, including the removal of the High Court stage of the process.

The bill's original text included the need for a High Court judge to sign off on the procedure before it could take place, however, this was removed and replaced with a voluntary assisted dying (VAD) commissioner, whose powers the MPs questioned.

Other concerns included insufficient protection for children, people with anorexia, mental health conditions, learning difficulties and victims of domestic and financial abuse.

They criticised the doctor's ability to recommend assisted dying to people under the age of 18 as an option, as well as proactively suggest the procedure regardless of whether an ill patient expressed any wish to discuss it.

The letter read: "It is our hope the bill will not progress in its current form and that a better way can be found to take forward the vital conversation about choice at the end of life.

"But a flawed and dangerous bill that places the most vulnerable people in society at unacceptable risk is no choice at all and we urge MPs to vote against it."