The Welsh NHS is set to consider a controversial proposal for assisted dying, sparking debates on its potential expansion and eligibility criteria. Plaid Cymru's Delyth Jewell and Tory Mark Isherwood have raised concerns about the potential for assisted dying to be expanded to a wider range of conditions and individuals. The debate centers around the Terminally Ill Adults bill, which is modeled after Oregon's legislation in the USA. While the bill's main provisions have remained unchanged for 26 years, opponents argue that records from Oregon show a significant increase in the number of assisted deaths, from 16 in 1998 to 278 in 2022. This has led to questions about the potential for assisted dying to be expanded to non-terminal conditions, as seen in Canada and Belgium. In Canada, the law was changed in 2021 to include non-terminal conditions classified as a 'grievous and irremediable medical condition' where it is 'intolerable'. Similarly, Belgium extended its law in 2014 to allow children with 'a capacity of discernment' and terminal illnesses to access assisted dying, with six cases reported since the change. However, an academic study reviewing all assisted deaths in Belgium found no evidence of a slippery slope, stating that 'safeguards appear effective'. The debate continues as the Welsh NHS considers the implications of assisted dying, with concerns about eligibility and potential expansion.
