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Today in Parliament: 18/07/2014

18/07/2014

BBC Radio 4 - Today in Parliament, 18/07/2014

Mark D'Arcy reports as the House of Lords debates assisted dying.

Mark D'Arcy reports as the House of Lords debates a call for terminally ill patients in England and Wales to have the right to get medical help to end their own life.

Demonstrators gathered outside Parliament as a record number of peers prepared to debate a bill which calls for terminally-ill patients in England and Wales to have the right to receive medical help to end their own life.

This is one of the most controversial issues facing the courts and Parliament.

The President of the Supreme Court has called for Parliament to consider whether or not the law should be changed.

This week the Prime Minister, David Cameron, said he wasn't convinced that Parliament needed to take "further steps" and said he was worried about any moves to legalise euthanasia. 

On Friday a crowded House of Lords gathered to hear the Labour former Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer make the case for his Assisted Dying Bill.

It would allow doctors to prescribe a lethal dose to terminally ill patients who have less than six months to live.

Critics say the proposals amount to "licensed suicide".

It was a serious - and at times emotional - discussion stretching over many hours which allowed peers to draw upon their experience and expertise.

Mark D'Arcy and Tom Sandars watched the debate.

Also in this programme Alasdair Rendall reports from Strasbourg on the European Parliament's decision to confirm the former Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker as the next President of the European Commission.

Presenter: Mark D'Arcy

Editor: Sean Curran.

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