Will euthanasia ever be legal in the UK? Esther Rantzen reveals she has joined Dignitas

Euthanasia is a complex and emotional topic, but broadcaster Esther Rantzen has made clear that she is firmly in support of assisted dying.

The 83-year-old, who is the founder of ChildLine, revealed that her lung cancer has progressed to stage four in May. In an interview with BBC's The Today Podcast, she said she has joined the Swiss organisation Dignitas, which provides physician-assisted suicide to members with terminal illness or severe physical or mental illness.

Rantzen, who is undergoing cancer treatment, also urged the government to hold a free vote on assisted dying, adding that it is "important that the law catches up with what the country wants".

"I have joined Dignitas. I have in my brain thought, well, if the next scan says nothing's working I might buzz off to Zurich," she told the podcast.

"But it puts my family and friends in a difficult position because they would want to go with me. And that means that the police might prosecute them. So we've got to do something. At the moment, it's not really working, is it?"

Explaining why she has decided to go to Dignitas if her cancer treatment does not work, Rantzen said that she told her family: "I don't want their last memories of me to be painful because if you watch someone you love having a bad death, that memory obliterates all the happy times and I don't want that to happen. I don't want to be that sort of victim in their lives."

Rantzen is far from alone in her views about assisted dying. Earlier this year, Sharon Osbourne confirmed that she and Ozzy intend to go through with their euthanasia plan that they put in place several years ago, in the event they became unable to live their regular lives because of a neurodegenerative condition.

The former X Factor judge, 71, revealed in her 2007 memoir that she and Ozzy, 74, have plans to go to Dignitas, the Swiss organisation that provides physician-assisted suicide to those with terminal illnesses or severe physical or mental illness.

In an episode of The Osbournes podcast, which features Sharon, Ozzy, their daughter Kelly and son Jack, the TV star was asked if euthanasia was “still a plan” for them.

Sharon replied: “Do you think that we’re gonna suffer?” Jack asked: “Aren’t we all already suffering?”

His mother then said: “Yes, we all are, but I don’t want it to actually hurt, as well. Mental suffering is enough pain without physical. So if you’ve got mental and physical, see ya.”

Euthanasia, also known as assisted suicide or assisted dying, is not legal in the UK and carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. However, a number of celebrities have spoken in support of it in recent years, including the Osbournes, Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith, and Carol Vorderman.

In August, Vorderman appeared on Kathy Burke’s podcast Where There’s A Will, There’s A Wake and said euthanasia is a “very dignified” way to die and is “something that should be discussed”.

But will the practice, which is legal in just a few countries across the world including Switzerland, Australia, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, ever become legal in the UK?

The controversy around assisted suicide

Joseph Navas, director and solicitor at Britton & Time, explains that the UK legal system "emphasises the sanctity of life while also acknowledging individual autonomy", so striking a balance between these principles when it comes to euthanasia poses a significant challenge.

"Advocates argue that mentally competent adults should have the right to make decisions about their own lives, including the choice to die with medical assistance, subject to strict safeguards. Opponents raise concerns about the potential for abuse, the impact on vulnerable populations and the ethical implications for healthcare professionals involved in the process," he says.

But support for legalising euthanasia has grown among the UK population. Research by Ipsos UK published in August showed that two-thirds (65%) of the UK public supported the legalisation of euthanasia, with 38% believing it is acceptable to break the law to help a friend or loved one who wishes to die.

It came after a new parliamentary inquiry was launched, asking if euthanasia should be legalised in the UK. The House of Commons previously considered changing the law in 2015, but only have only recently started looking into the subject again.

Grassroots campaigns and charities, such as Dignity in Dying, have been pushing for the government to legalise euthanasia for a number of years and told the committee inquiry earlier this year that people “are existing, they’re not living”.

The legal challenges

Tautvydas Sutkus, a solicitor at Glowbarldn, tells Yahoo UK that, while public support for euthanasia has grown, "UK courts have shown a certain reluctance in legalising" it. Instead, having "thrown the ball into Parliament’s court", they have "urged a re-evaluation of the issue".

He adds: "Beyond the moral questions, practical concerns abound. If assisted dying were to be legalised, would the NHS bear the responsibility? The British Medical Association has historically been against assisted dying, but in recent polls, there’s a clear split in medical opinion.

"The challenge lies not just in the principle of the act but in its implementation - defining strict criteria, maintaining rigorous oversight, and offering adequate support to medical professionals involved."

Navas adds: "The trajectory toward legalising assisted suicide in the UK depends on societal attitudes, ongoing debates in Parliament, and the influence of international examples where assisted suicide has been legalised with stringent regulations.

"Public opinion, evolving medical ethics, and continued dialogue among lawmakers and citizens will likely shape the future of assisted suicide legalisation in England and Wales. All we can say for now is that the question of whether assisted suicide will be introduced in England and Wales is not an easy question to answer."

Is change on the horizon?

Sutkus believes that despite the subject being fraught with "hurdles", the continuing conversation about euthanasia could mean that change is coming.

However, legalising it "isn’t just about permitting an act; it’s about creating an unbreachable framework that protects against misuse", he says.

"The real challenge [is] crafting a law that respects individual rights without compromising societal safeguards. Remember, legal prognostication is not about predicting the future but analysing the currents of change. The issue of assisted dying is a maelstrom of emotion, ethics, and pragmatism, and understanding it requires peeling back multiple layers," he concludes.

For confidential support at times of emotional distress, contact The Samaritans at any time by calling 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org.

Watch: Assisted dying reforms in the EU: Regulating end-of-life care

Read more about assisted dying:

• Where euthanasia is legal as Carol Vorderman calls it 'dignified' and says it 'should be discussed' in UK (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)

• ‘Take action’ and change law to legalise assisted dying, Prue Leith urges MPs (PA Media, 3-min read)

• British terminally ill teacher makes final plea for assisted dying bill after arriving at Dignitas (Yahoo News UK)