Peer warns of impact of 'dying bill' on courts

A FORMER Lord Chief Justice has said that "no-one has grappled with the detail" of the impact that assisted dying legislation could have on the court system.

Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, who held the role in England and Wales between 2013 and 2017, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme "the process and the impact on the court system is really something about which there should be information before we decide in principle to proceed" with the plans.

MPs will vote on the proposed legislation on Friday following a debate in the House of Commons.

According to the plans laid out earlier this month, the legislation will mean that the process of assisted dying must involve two independent doctors being satisfied that the person is eligible.

A person must be terminally ill and expected to die within six months.