Suicide pod will be ready to use in UK, inventor says
MPs voted on Friday by a majority of 23 to approve Kim Leadbeater's Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
The legislation will go to the next stage of scrutiny in the House of Lords but with the bill expected to become law, Dr Philip Nitschke, a prominent advocate for assisted dying, said he hoped to use his controversial Sarco suicide capsule in Britain for the first time.
Terminally ill people in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live will be allowed to apply for an assisted death , subject to approval by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
What is the coalition of the willing?
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has spoken with the UK's allies in the so-called 'coalition of the willing', amid a multinational push to guarantee Ukraine's security once fighting stops in eastern Europe. Here, the PA news agency looks at who is in the coalition and what they can achieve: – What is the coalition of the willing? At least 31 countries have signed up to help defend a peace deal in Ukraine, once one is struck, in an effort to ward off a future attack by Russia. The UK is among those 'willing', with the Government prepared to put 'boots on the ground and planes in the air', Sir Keir said when he unveiled plans for the coalition at London's Lancaster House in March. But it is not the first of its kind. Former US president Bill Clinton suggested in 1994 that sanctions could be imposed by a 'so-called coalition of the willing', to quell North Korea's nuclear ambitions, and his successor George W Bush announced a similar alliance in the early-2000s to disarm the then-Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. – Who has signed up? Leaders from the UK, France, Germany, Finland and Italy have all indicated their willingness to defend a peace deal in Ukraine. They joined Donald Trump, who has not signed up to the coalition, and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House this month. A total 31 countries are in the coalition, according to the Government's National Security Strategy 2025. Beyond Europe, it has attracted support from the Canadian and Australian prime ministers Mark Carney and Anthony Albanese. – Will British troops go to Ukraine? After Sir Keir's commitment to put 'boots on the ground and planes in the air together with others' to militarily defend a peace deal, No 10 unveiled its support for a Multinational Force Ukraine, in an effort to help regenerate Ukraine's own armed forces. Military chiefs have previously met in Paris to agree a strategy for the force, and to coordinate plans with the EU, Nato, the US and more than 200 planners from 30 international partners. And in Washington, European leaders discussed early-stage proposals for a security guarantee, similar to Nato's article five principle – that an attack one member is an attack on the entire bloc. – What has the coalition achieved? 'The coalition of the willing has been successful in advocating for Ukraine and communicating with Trump and the US administration during its outreach to Russia,' says Edward Arnold from the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) think tank. 'Moreover, it has undertaken lengthy military planning and has established a leadership and command structure. However, much remains uncertain, especially the nature of any agreed ceasefire or whether a broader peace process is on the cards.' But the US's commitment is 'far from certain', he told the PA news agency, and warned that 'European planners cannot progress the planning until the US position is agreed'. – What is Nato's role? Nato's Mark Rutte has attended meetings of the coalition of the willing, and Mr Trump appeared pleased with his efforts at their meeting when he described the secretary general as 'a great, great political leader'. But Mr Arnold warned that an article five-style mutual defence deal could amount to 'de facto' membership of the bloc for Ukraine, something which Russian president Vladimir Putin 'is unlikely to agree to'. He said: ''Nato article five-style' guarantees are being talked about but Nato is a unique alliance which is not able to be replicated for Ukraine. 'Moreover, if any coalition of the willing member signed a mutual defence clause with Ukraine, and then Ukraine was attacked further, that could conceivably draw that Nato member into direct conflict with Russia, thereby potentially triggering article five.' Sir Keir has welcomed 'some sort of article five-style guarantees', which he said 'fits' with some of the coalition's work, and Mr Trump who met Mr Putin in an Alaska summit claimed Moscow will 'accept' multinational efforts to guarantee Ukraine's security.
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
How diamonds can help detect cancer
University of Warwick scientists have developed a diamond-based sensor designed to trace tiny magnetic particles injected into the body. This handheld device offers a non-toxic alternative to radioactive tracers and dyes currently used to detect the spread of cancer cells to lymph nodes. The sensor is highly sensitive, capable of detecting just one hundredth of the typical magnetic tracer fluid dose, and is small enough for endoscopic and keyhole surgery. Its design incorporates a half-cubic millimetre diamond with nitrogen vacancy centres, allowing for compact, handheld use without bulky electronics. Researchers believe the technology could improve cancer detection for various tumour types and has potential applications beyond medicine, including in spacecraft and fusion power. Diamonds could help detect cancer using groundbreaking new technique
Daily Mail
26 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Mystery of Reform's disappearing deputy: Party is accused of council 'shambles' as 22-year-old deputy leader is 'removed' after just three months without explanation
A Reform-run county council has been accused of delivering a 'shambles' after the party removed its 22-year-old deputy leader after just three months in the role. Joseph Boam had been seen as one of the party's rising stars when he was appointed to the role at Leicestershire county council following the party's election win in May. But he has now been removed from his post and is also no longer cabinet lead member for adult social care and communities. Mr Boam, who declared 'this is just the beginning' following his appointment, denied he had stepped down from his role or resigned, but did not comment on whether he had been sacked. 'I am no longer deputy leader or in cabinet, but have been offered a cabinet support role which I'm inclined to take,' he said. He insisted in a Facebook post on Sunday that 'nothing's changed' and he'll 'keep fighting' for his constituents in Whitwick. 'Despite the recent news, nothing's changed, I'll keep fighting for Whitwick at County Hall and doing everything I can to help get a Reform UK government and Nigel Farage as our next prime minister,' he wrote. Mr Boam later posted a picture of himself sitting at a pub with two of his 'good friends' with a turquoise 'Make Britain Great Again' baseball cap positioned on the table. He followed this up with another picture where he is seen holding a pint of lemonade. Mr Boam captioned the post 'cheers'. He later posted on Facebook that 'nothing's changed' and said he would keep fighting for his constituents in Whitwick It is unclear why he has been removed from both positions, with council leader Dan Harrison refusing to comment until the party group had met this week. The leader of the main opposition to the authority, Ms Taylor, said in a statement released on social media that the Reform-led council is delivering a 'shambles'. She said: 'The Reform Administration at Leicestershire County Council has lacked leadership and direction from the very start. 'So it comes as no surprise to us that Cllr Joseph Boam has been shown the door after just three months as Deputy Leader of Leicestershire County Council and Cabinet Lead Member for Adults. 'Frankly, he was wholly unqualified for such a critical role and lacked the experience or judgment to bring anything of value to the position. 'Adult Social Care and Communities is one of the most important and challenging portfolios in local government. 'It requires steady hands, long-term commitment and a depth of understanding. 'What it has been given instead is instability, poor judgment, and revolving-door appointments. 'At a time when Leicestershire needs stability, vision, and experienced leadership more than ever, residents are being served a plate of chaos. 'Reform promised change, what they're delivering is a shambles.' A Reform UK source said: 'Joseph deserves thanks for his role in helping to establish the Reform Group at Leicestershire County Council and we wish him well as he moves into a new role where he will continue to support the group's efforts at County Hall.' Ms Taylor said in a video posted on social media on Monday that the leader of the Reform-led county council, Dan Harrison, had 'sacked' Mr Boam over the weekend. The Conservative group had previously told Mr Boam to 'educate himself' when an X post from an account named Lord Joseph Boam II said 'depression isn't real'. Mr Boam dismissed the claims as 'fake news' and 'political smears' and said his 'focus remains on delivering for the people I was elected to serve'. He has previously shared images on his X account posing and shaking the hand of Reform leader Nigel Farage. Reform won 25 out of the 55 seats on the council and formed a minority administration after the local elections in May, taking control from the Conservatives. Mr Boam was n ot the youngest Reform councillor with a senior county council position, as 19-year-old George Finch is currently the leader of Warwickshire County Council.
