Tell us what you think about assisted dying

Today, MPs have begun debating a landmark law which would give terminally ill people the right to end their lives at a time of their choosing. Currently, the law prevents people from asking for medical assistance to help them die.

It is a deeply contentious issue. Over the past few weeks, people on either side of the debate have put forward passionate arguments for or against a change to the law. Those in a favour of allowing assisted dying argue that people who are terminally ill or suffering from life-limiting illnesses should be given the choice to end their lives.

READ MORE: Actress Liz Carr says she's 'losing sleep' over assisted dying law

READ MORE: Mixed views but overall support for change to assisted dying law in Liverpool city centre

Wirral-born actress Liz Carr is a vocal opponent of the proposed change to the law. She was born with a condition called arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, and has used a wheelchair since the age of 14. Liz said she is "losing sleep" over the bill. She said in an interview with the BBC's Hard Talk: "It is terrifying to me that once we cross that line, and we allow the state and the medical profession to get involved in the deaths and the killing or the giving of lethal medication to certain people, that we've crossed a moral divide and there's no going back."

Esther Rantzen, meanwhile, is a high profile advocate for change, and says the current law is "cruel". Esther, who is suffering from terminal lung cancer, told the BBC: "All I'm asking for is that we be given the dignity of choice. If I decide that my own life is not worth living, please may I ask for help to die?"

When the ECHO asked people on the streets of Liverpool this week what their feelings were on the issue, the majority of respondents said they were in favour of a change to the law. Ex-nurse Lisa Leather told us: "I absolutely support the bill. Having worked within palliative care, and seen how people's deaths can sometimes be quite traumatic, not peaceful, I think by allowing this, people can make the choice.

"They can have an advanced care plan in place, whereby they've got that option. The patient - the person, the individual - knows when the time is right, and when they do that, it is a much more peaceful, controlled way of dying. They can have a good death within the community, or in hospital - wherever they choose to do it."

What do you think? Vote in our poll below and if you can't see the poll click here.

The parliamentary bill is called the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. It was introduced by backbench Labour MP Kim Leadbeater as a private members' bill.

According to the bill, anyone who wants to end their life must be over 18 and live in England and Wales; be expected to die within six months; have the mental capacity to make the choice and be deemed to have expressed a clear, settled and informed wish, free from coercion or pressure; make two separate declarations, witnessed and signed, about their wish to die; and satisfy two independent doctors that they are eligible - with at least seven days between each assessment.

Under the proposals, a High Court judge would have to rule each time a person makes a request to end their life. A patient would then have to wait 14 days before acting. A doctor would prepare the substance being used to end the patient's life, but the person would take it themselves. It would be illegal to coerce someone into declaring they want to end their life, with a possible 14-year prison sentence.

MPs have been given a free vote, which means they can choose to vote whichever way their conscience decides, rather than being whipped to follow party instructions. In 2015, MPs voted to reject proposed changes to the law on assisted dying by 330 votes to 118.