Alex Ruck Keene KC Questions Risks of Assisted Dying Legislation

Alex Ruck Keene KC, a barrister who worked on a significant assisted dying case, shares his concerns about the reform of UK law regarding assisted dying. He highlights that the legal framework, such as the one proposed in Lord Falconer’s bill, may not sufficiently address critical issues surrounding mental capacity and the principle of support defined in the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Ruck Keene stresses the complexities of determining whether individuals have the capacity to make decisions about ending their lives amidst potential legal challenges. He warns that if Parliament restricts assisted dying to a specific group, it opens the door to claims of discrimination, thereby complicating the legal landscape and raising questions about equality under the law. With parliamentarians approaching decisions on this sensitive issue, Ruck Keene urges for a more informed consideration of the implications these changes could bring to the legal system and society at large.