Right to die ‘granted for people with eating disorders’, shocking report claims – and ‘at least 60 ended their lives in last ten years’

Doctors overseas are allowing people with eating disorders to end their lives, a shocking report has claimed.

The study revealed that at least 60 people with eating disorders – such as anorexia – had ended their lives in the last ten years in countries that allow assisted dying.

Researchers said that included parts of the US – even though assisted dying there is only permissible after a diagnosis of terminal illness.

The warnings come amid growing momentum for assisted dying to be made legal in this country after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he would allow Commons time to debate the issue.

Earlier this year, he said he was ‘personally committed’ to the change, telling campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen – who has terminal lung cancer – that he would let MPs have a free vote.

The warnings come amid growing momentum for assisted dying to be made legal in this country after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen (seen, right, in 2020) – who has terminal lung cancer – that he would let MPs have a free vote on it

Labour peer Lord Falconer has unveiled his own proposals that restrict the right to die to people with a terminal illness and six months or less to live, and campaign group Dignity In Dying said Lord Falconer’s proposals say ‘safety is woven into’ his bill

Leading Labour peer Lord Falconer has already unveiled his own detailed proposals that restrict the right to die to people with a terminal illness and six months or less to live. 

But last night, eating disorder expert Chelsea Roff, lead author on the Assisted Death in Eating Disorders report, raised fears that the new law could be abused.

She told the MoS: ‘Our study identified at least 60 cases where physicians helped patients with eating disorders to end their lives using lethal medications – including cases in the US. 

‘These findings should set off alarm bells for MPs as this law may put some of the most vulnerable groups in our society – individuals with disabilities, eating disorders and other mental illnesses – at risk.’

Her report found at least three cases in the US, 22 in Belgium and over 30 in the Netherlands where an eating disorder was given as the primary reason for a request for an assisted death.

However, campaign group Dignity In Dying said Lord Falconer’s proposals would prevent that.

Chief executive Sarah Wootton said: ‘Safety is woven into this Bill, introducing practical measures to assess eligibility, ensure rigorous medical oversight, and monitor every part of the process.’

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