A York hospice boss has said that the debate on the assisted dying bill is the biggest issue to face his sector during his career.
Dr Bill Hulme, medical director at St Leonard's Hospice, said that the hospice will not be taking a side on the debate - which is due for its second reading in the House of Commons on Friday, November 29.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is a private members' bill sponsored by MP for Spen Valley, Kim Leadbeater. If passed, through a series of proposed checks and balances, it would allow terminally ill patients to opt for an assisted death.
Speaking to The Press, Dr Hulme said: "Traditionally, a lot of hospices have been opposed to changes in the law. Our neutrality is based partly because the people we look after have a wide range of views."
Dr Hulme added that their neutrality is something that they’ve "discussed as an organisation".
"We didn't feel that we should have a stance one way or another, but we don’t want to be excluded from any debates," he added.
YOU’LL FIND MORE ON THIS STORY AND OTHERS AT www.yorkpressd.co.uk OR PICK UP YOUR COPY OF THE NEWSPAPER ITSELF AVAILABLE SIX DAYS A WEEK AT YOUR LOCAL NEWSAGENT