The Politics of Assisted Dying: Explaining the Public-Parliamentary Gap
Ian Bache
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Abstract
This paper provides an overview of the politics of assisted dying in the UK, mapping key issues and debates in the field. It does not take a view on the moral issues involved but offers explanations for why assisted dying legislation has not been introduced in the UK, despite an increasing trend for legislation in other jurisdictions. In particular, it reflects on the large gap between public opinion and Parliamentary opinion on the issue of assisted dying. The paper prepares the ground for future research to highlight some of the less visible processes in shaping views on the issue.