Kim Leadbeater Moves to Ban Assisted Dying Ads and Strengthen End-of-Life Care in Bid for Safer Legislation
Adverts promoting assisted dying services will be banned if the procedure is legalised, under a new amendment set to be tabled by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. According to the Guardian, the proposed ban comes as part of a wider effort to ensure that the legislation, which would permit assisted death for terminally ill people in England and Wales, is implemented with strict safeguards. Leadbeater said adverts promoting assisted death as an option would not be permitted if the bill becomes law, citing backlash in countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands, where advertising has been criticised for appearing to promote assisted dying as a preferred choice.
In a letter to fellow MPs, Leadbeater wrote that there is a “wide consensus” across political lines that advertising should be prohibited. She also plans to introduce an amendment requiring the Department of Health and Social Care to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the state of palliative and end-of-life care in the country. Emphasising the need for a balanced approach, she stated: “It is not a choice between assisted dying or palliative care – I firmly believe we should take a holistic approach to choice and care for terminally ill people.”
However, some critics argue that the proposed advertising ban lacks strength due to a loophole allowing future health secretaries to create exceptions. Labour MP Paul Waugh, who opposes the bill, has proposed an amendment that would restrict any communication on assisted dying to health professionals and only to patients who had already expressed interest.
Leadbeater said she continues to consult colleagues to ensure the bill is as robust and safe as possible. She highlighted the extensive scrutiny the bill has already undergone, stating that if passed by the House of Lords, it would have received up to 200 hours of parliamentary consideration – making it one of the most scrutinised pieces of legislation in recent times.
Additional amendments from Leadbeater include provisions for regulating substances used in assisted deaths, and requirements for the health secretary to consult a wide range of stakeholders, including people with learning disabilities, healthcare providers, and groups representing protected characteristics such as race, religion, and belief.
Leadbeater also voiced support for an amendment put forward by Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson, a critic of the bill, calling for a thorough government review of palliative and end-of-life care services. The amendment is backed by Marie Curie and other charities active in the sector. “This is not about choosing one type of care over another,” Leadbeater reiterated, “but ensuring terminally ill people are offered meaningful, compassionate options.”
The final Commons vote on the bill is due next Friday, with parliamentary opinion appearing to shift. According to The Guardian, more than a dozen MPs are believed to have changed their stance to oppose the legislation, although at least three MPs have moved to support it. Labour Party chair Ellie Reeves, who abstained during the previous vote, confirmed she will now back the bill. Meanwhile, former health minister Andrew Gwynne and Labour MP Paul Foster have both indicated they intend to vote against it.
