Adverts for assisted dying services would be banned, says MP

Adverts promoting assisted dying services would be banned if the procedure was made law under a new amendment, the MP sponsoring the bill has said.

- Jessica Elgot

Labour's Kim Leadbeater said adverts promoting assisted death as an option for terminally ill people would not be allowed.

She will table an amendment prohibiting such advertising when the bill returns to the Commons today, as well as an amendment that would require the Department of Health and Social Care to undertake an assessment of the state of palliative care.

In a letter to MPs, Leadbeater said there was a "wide consensus" that advertising the procedure should not be permitted. Adverts in other countries have been widely criticised for appearing to promote assisted dying as a preferable option.

"I have worked with colleagues on both sides of the debate and I believe there is wide consensus that if assisted dying does become legal, we wouldn't want to see it promoted through advertising," Leadbeater said in her letter.