Lords committee: "Divided on the issue"

A House of Lords committee has recommended several changes to the bill that would legalise euthanasia.

The peers said any legislation should "distinguish clearly between assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia" in order to give the House the opportunity to consider them separately.

The committee said there was insufficient time remaining for the bill to be considered properly at this stage, but recommended that its report should be debated early in the next session.

Their recommendations include setting qualifying conditions for assisted suicide or voluntary euthanasia, and defining a patient's suffering in as objective a manner as possible.

The chairman of the committee, Lord Mackay of Clashfern, said: "Ending or helping to end someone's life, albeit with their consent, is an awesome issue, and opinion within the committee has been divided.

"We have explored the underlying ethical principles involved and the practical implications of any change in the law on intentional killing and assistance with suicide. And we have looked at the experience of other countries where legislation of this nature is in force.

"Our report is intended to inform future debate and to improve public understanding of this complex and emotive subject."

Mackay said that the legislation should be considered by a committee of the whole house.