Peers seek to block voluntary euthanasia

The issue of voluntary euthanasia should be excluded from future
assisted dying legislation, say peers.

The House of Lords committee on the Assisted Dying for the
Terminally Ill Bill said international experience showed legalising
voluntary euthanasia alongside assisted suicide resulted in much
higher take-up.

Lord Joffe’s private members’ bill proposed voluntary euthanasia
for terminally ill people who are competent to decide to end their
lives but are physically incapable of doing so.

In a report peers said take-up was 17 times higher in the
Netherlands, where similar legislation applies, than in Oregon, US,
where only assisted suicide is permitted.