That this House expresses its condolences to the family of motor neurone disease sufferer Paul Bennett, who died recently; notes that he chose to have an assisted suicide at Dignitas in Switzerland; regrets that Mr Bennett's relatives were subjected to police investigations and risked 14 years imprisonment under the Suicide Act 1961 for respecting his wishes and being present when he died; welcomes the Director of Public Prosecutions' recent decision that it is not in the `public interest' to prosecute his relatives; notes that 54 Britons have died at Dignitas and no prosecutions have followed, suggesting that the police and prosecution authorities do not see the current law as effectively serving the public interest; recognises the finding of the House of Lords Select Committee on the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill that even excellent palliative care will not prevent some terminally ill people from suffering and wishing to receive help to die; believes it would be safer for terminally ill people who wish to receive help to die, and for vulnerable people who are put at risk under current British law, to change UK law in accordance with the provisions of the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill; regrets attempts by the minority who oppose changing the law to stifle all debate on this important subject; and hopes that there will be more debate of this issue by Parliament in the future.

That this House expresses its condolences to the family of motor neurone disease sufferer Paul Bennett, who died recently; notes that he chose to have an assisted suicide at Dignitas in Switzerland; regrets that Mr Bennett's relatives were subjected to police investigations and risked 14 years imprisonment under the Suicide...

That this House is saddened by the death of the terminally ill doctor Anne Turner who chose to travel to Switzerland to receive assistance to die; hopes that her son and daughters who accompanied her are treated with compassion and sensitivity by the authorities on their return to the UK; is concerned that this is the 42nd case of its kind in the past three years and yet the Director of Public Prosecutions still refuses to publish guidance as to whether family members who accompany their relatives overseas for an assisted death are breaking the law; notes that recent research by Clive Seale from Brunel University has uncovered that, on average, there are eight illegal assisted deaths performed by doctors in the UK every day; and believes this sensitive issue should be further discussed in this House.

That this House is saddened by the death of the terminally ill doctor Anne Turner who chose to travel to Switzerland to receive assistance to die; hopes that her son and daughters who accompanied her are treated with compassion and sensitivity by the authorities on their return to the UK;...

That this House welcomes the introduction of the Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill and the opportunity it presents to allow terminally ill adults to make a considered request for medical assistance to die; notes that the Joint Committee on Human Rights, who examined the Bill, concluded that, '...the safeguards set out in the Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill would be adequate to protect the interests and rights of vulnerable patients. They would ensure that nobody could lawfully be subjected to assisted dying without his or her fully informed consent'; and believes that this Bill is in accordance with the views of 80 per cent. of the population who support this proposal.

That this House welcomes the introduction of the Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill and the opportunity it presents to allow terminally ill adults to make a considered request for medical assistance to die; notes that the Joint Committee on Human Rights, who examined the Bill, concluded that, '...the safeguards set out...

That this House notes that the House of Lords' decision in the case of Pretty makes it clear that in accordance with section 2(4) of the Suicide Act 1961 it lies with the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide which cases he believes should or should not be prosecuted; further notes that, in particular, Lord Hope found that the DPP is entitled to form and publish a policy as to the criteria he will apply when exercising his discretion under section 2(4) of the Act; and calls upon the Government to ensure this policy is published as a matter of urgency, so families set to travel abroad to help their terminally ill relatives receive an assisted death can regulate their conduct with reference to the criminal law.

That this House notes that the House of Lords' decision in the case of Pretty makes it clear that in accordance with section 2(4) of the Suicide Act 1961 it lies with the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide which cases he believes should or should not be prosecuted; further...

That this House notes with regret the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Diane Pretty, a, 43 year old women who has motor neurone disease which has left her mind as sharp as ever, having fought against the disease for the last two years and having had every possible medical treatment; notes that she is fully aware of what the future holds and that rather than die by choking or suffocation she has requested a doctor to help her die when she is no longer able to communicate with her family and friends; notes that if she were physically able to she could take her own life, which is not illegal, but that because of the terrible nature of her illness she will need assistance; believes that a doctor should be able to give her that assistance and that the law needs to be changed so that Diane and people like her can choose medical assistance to die at a time of their own choosing and not be forced to endure untold suffering for no reason; and further notes that over 10,000 members of the public signed a petition in support of a change in the law at www.justice4diane.org.uk in just one day.

That this House notes with regret the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Diane Pretty, a, 43 year old women who has motor neurone disease which has left her mind as sharp as ever, having fought against the disease for the last two years...

That this House condemns the House of Lords' decision not to grant Diane Pretty's husband immunity from prosecution should he help her to die; notes that every opinion poll conducted in the past year registers over 80 per cent. of support for terminally ill patients to be given the choice to die in a manner and at a time of their choosing; believes that this choice should not be determined by the availability of good palliative care; is concerned that doctors practising in the United Kingdom have repeatedly admitted that unregulated assisted dying currently takes place; and believe that legislation to regulate assisted dying, incorporating a broad range of safeguards, is required to empower terminally-ill patients with the choice to die with dignity.

That this House condemns the House of Lords' decision not to grant Diane Pretty's husband immunity from prosecution should he help her to die; notes that every opinion poll conducted in the past year registers over 80 per cent. of support for terminally ill patients to be given the choice...

That this House welcomes the decisive vote in the Northern Territory Parliament of Australia to legalise voluntary euthanasia for terminally ill people; regards the right of self determination at the end of life as a basic human right; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislation to extend this right to the citizens of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

That this House welcomes the decisive vote in the Northern Territory Parliament of Australia to legalise voluntary euthanasia for terminally ill people; regards the right of self determination at the end of life as a basic human right; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislation to extend this...

That this House welcomes the recent publication in the British Medical Journal of the results of an anonymous survey into National Health Service doctors' attitudes to requests for euthanasia; notes that nearly half of the doctors surveyed had been asked by a patient to take active steps to hasten death; further notes that a third of those doctors complied with the patient's request; considers the recent Lords Select Committee Report on Medical Ethics which considers euthanasia to be an unsatisfactory response to the growing debate in the country; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislation to address this vitally important subject.

That this House welcomes the recent publication in the British Medical Journal of the results of an anonymous survey into National Health Service doctors' attitudes to requests for euthanasia; notes that nearly half of the doctors surveyed had been asked by a patient to take active steps to hasten death;...

That this House salutes the success of all those involved in the hospice movement and in palliative care; congratulates those who care for the terminally ill and the dying on the great progress which has been achieved in the development of palliative medicine in the United Kingdom; notes with profound concern the fact that in the Netherlands euthanasia now accounts for 3,700 deaths each year of which more than 1, 000 are as a result of involuntary euthanasia; and registers its opposition to the decriminalisation of euthanasia in this country.

That this House salutes the success of all those involved in the hospice movement and in palliative care; congratulates those who care for the terminally ill and the dying on the great progress which has been achieved in the development of palliative medicine in the United Kingdom; notes with profound...