How does the new assisted dying bill affect people with Parkinson's?
Our position on the legislation due for debate in the Westminster parliament, and answers to your key questions.
The Westminster parliament is due to debate a new piece of legislation which would, if passed, legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. Assisted dying legislation is also progressing in the Isle of Man and the Scottish parliament is considering a proposal for a new law in Scotland.
What we think
The public discussion around these developments has prompted debate within the Parkinson's community, with strong opinions being aired on either side of the argument. Parkinson's UK's position on assisted dying is neutral. That's because of that variety of views amongst our members and the wider community of people affected by Parkinson's. As a result, we're not campaigning for or against these bills.
We can, however, answer questions you might have.
What you need to know
The bill in the Westminster parliament, if passed as currently drafted, would not legalise assisted dying for people with Parkinson's because it would apply only to people who have been given a terminal diagnosis and are expected to die within 6 months. This is rarely the case for people with Parkinson's at the end of their lives.
Some are making the case for the bill to be changed to apply to people with Parkinson's, but this is highly unlikely to succeed.
The vote scheduled for 29 November is a gateway vote (known as a second reading). If the majority of MPs vote against it, the bill will progress no further. If the majority vote in favour, the bill will be discussed in much more detail in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords over a number of months.
We will monitor the progress of the bill in Westminster and the proposed legislation in Scotland, keeping our community informed about developments.
More on our position
Read our position on assisted dying and end of life care in full.