"He didn't end his life he ended his death": Assisted Dying Bill goes to report stage
Gareth Ward has campaigned to legalise assisted dying since his father's death in 2021 who was suffering from terminal prostate cancer
An Essex man tells us if his father had been given a different option - "he would not have taken his own life so drastically".
MPs gather in the House of Commons on 16 May 2025 for the assisted dying bill’s report stage.
In this stage, MPs will debate further amendments to Kim Leadbeater's Bill with votes likely on some key proposed changes.
A third reading is expected in June.
Under the bill’s current stipulations a panel of experts including a psychiatrist would oversee assisted dying cases.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, campaigner Gareth Ward said "when you really are just waiting to die, like my Dad, you should be able to choose to shorten your own suffering".
From Rayleigh, Gareth has campaigned to legalise assisted dying since his father, Norman, took his own life in 2021 after a long battle with prostate cancer.
He says: "the last five years of his life, he rapidly deteriorated and was in an unbelievable amount of pain".
"It just became too much so he called me up and told me he was going to take his own life, because he'd had enough.
"Given a different option he wouldn't have done what he did to himself."
It's been reported that at least five MPs who previously abstained on the assisted dying bill have decided to vote against it at its next stage.
Gareth says "I do believe the amendments strengthen the Bill.
"It's been an incredibly long march, I think my Dad would be proud, I'm doing it for him."
Gareth's sister found Norman in his back garden and "had to deal with the aftermath".
"Families shouldn't have to go through what we went through" he added.
"People like my Dad, in the pain he was in, they deserve a better choice."
Sir Keir Starmer will not be present at the debate on Friday because he is attending a European Political Community summit in Albania.