“Purdy amendment” likely to be delayed

The proposed 'Purdy amendment' to the Coroners and Justice Bill, which would legalise assisted dying in the UK, is unlikely to become law before Parliament adjourns for the summer recess.

Lord Joffe, whose assisted suicide bill was rejected in the Lords in 2007, said new legislation was unlikely to be rushed through during this term unless either the government or the opposition felt they could, on the strength of the evidence, call for a vote on the issue.

The Coroners Bill is currently at committee stage in the Lords and will probably move to report stage before a third reading, he said.

The amendment was due to be discussed on Tuesday 30 June in the House of Lords but will now be debated on Tuesday 7 July.

Instead the lords debated possible amendments to the Bill which would allow judges to direct juries in murder trials to consider extenuating circumstances. This, Lord Joffe told Solicitors Journal, could helpfully apply to cases of mercy killings.

The amendment was withdrawn despite agreement of all but two members of the committee after resistance by the Baroness Scotland.

The attorney general said this amendment would circumvent the mandatory sentence in murder cases and that all extenuating circumstances that might apply should be defined. 'I cannot imagine anything more silly,' said Lord Lloyd, who tabled the amendment.