AMs vote against the principles of Assisted Dying Bill
AMs have voted against the principles of a bill currently going through the House of Lords that would legalise assisted dying.
Cross party AMs were leading a debate on the principles of the Assisted Dying Bill, in an individual members debate, on 10 December 2014.
The controversial legislation is being discussed in the Lords and has multiple stages to go through in that chamber before it can potentially be introduced to the House of Commons.
It would allow doctors to prescribe a lethal dose of medication to patients with fewer than six months to live and who have expressed a wish to die.
Simon Thomas AM, Julie Morgan AM, Mick Antoniw AM, Alun Ffred Jones AM and Angela Burns AM all backed the motion to support the principles of the Assisted Dying Bill.
Plaid Cymru's Simon Thomas said: "The House of Lords Bill, if passed, will signal a major change in our approach as a society to dying and individuals' decisions. I recognise many Assembly Members will have strong views on this Bill as do our citizens."
He added: "Though this issue has not been devolved to Wales, unlike for example organ donation, it is vital that our own parliament has an opportunity to form a view on one of the most pressing ethical issues of our age. I will be voting in favour of supporting the principles of the Assisted Dying Bill."
However Conservative AM Darren Millar questioned the principles of the bill as he didn't believe that the law could ever provide for "sufficient safeguards to prevent unintended consequences".
Tory AM William Graham raised his concerns with the principles of this bill and stressed that "as a society we do not regard suicide itself as something to be encouraged or assisted".
Labour AM Jenny Rathbone spoke in favour of the motion and said that assisted dying "ought to be available to everybody who wished to take that decision but who do not have the resources to go off to Switzerland" where assisted suicide is legal.