Assisted dying bill does 'not meet needs of patients'
By Ashish Joshi, health correspondent
The Royal College of Psychiatrists' lead on assisted dying has told Sky News she is approaching Friday's vote by MPs "with professional trepidation".
The medical organisation said the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in its current form did "not meet the needs of patients".
It has also expressed concern over the shortage of qualified psychiatrists to take part in assisted dying panels, concerns around capacity assessment, and whether or not assisted dying will be interpreted as a treatment � because that would have a profound impact on a psychiatrist's decision-making process.
Friday will be the first time the bill has been voted on in its entirety since last year's 'yes' vote, when MPs supported the principle of assisted dying for England and Wales by a majority of 55.
MPs are allowed to have a free vote on the bill, meaning they can decide based on their conscience instead of following party lines.
The bill's supporters have said it is coming back to the Commons with better safeguards after more than 90 hours of parliamentary time spent on it to date. But opponents claim the process has been rushed and that changes to the bill mean it is weaker than when it was first introduced.
The proposed legislation would allow terminally ill adults, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist.