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Broadcaster and historian Jonathan Dimbleby watched his own brother, Nick, succumb to motor neurone disease (MND).

A private members鈥� bill from Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, which would allow assisted dying for terminally ill people in England and Wales, has been published at Westminster.

To be eligible, adults would need to be expected to die within six months and to have a clear and settled wish to end their lives.

Each decision would need to be approved by two doctors and a High Court judge.

Jonathan told 5 Live Breakfast that his brother wished he had had this option available to him after 鈥渄eclining rapidly鈥� due to his MND.

He says the safeguards and requirements surrounding the bill are 鈥渃ritically important鈥� and are 鈥渕ore powerful than anywhere else in the world.鈥�

鈥淭hose around someone who is terminally ill long to protect them and they might also say that in the end, it is their right to choose,鈥� he says.

But opponents of the bill fear that it would lead to people feeling pressure to end their lives in order to not be a 鈥渂urden鈥� to their families.

This clip is originally from 5 Live Breakfast on November 12th 2024.

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