A Suffolk MP has voiced his support for a bill set to go before parliament which could see assisted dying legalised. 

A new law has been proposed to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales, where it is currently banned with a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater formally introduced her bill to give choice at the end of life for the terminally ill in October.

Under the proposals the person must be 18 or older, have the mental capacity to make the choice, be terminally ill and expected to die within six months, and the process must involve two independent doctors being satisfied the person is eligible. 

Now Dr Peter Prinsley, MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, has come out in support of Ms Leadbeater's bill.

Dr Prinsley, who is an ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital and the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, said: "I am a supporter of the assisted dying bill. My experience of looking after patients over many years changed my mind on this.

"People may live well with terminal disease for a long time, but this bill is for those who are dying.

"There are people who even with the best palliative care wish to have some choice at the end of their lives about how and when they will die.

"I hope my parliamentary colleagues will vote to allow the bill to progress to the committee stage for further detailed scrutiny."

READ MORE: Bishop of East Anglia letter opposing assisted dying bill

A discussion on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill (Second Reading), will take place on Friday, November 15, at the Players Theatre, Battery Green Road, Lowestoft.

The event will be chaired by Liz Nice, editor of the East Anglian Daily Times, and confirmed speakers include Dr Janette Fish, who has over 30 years of experience supporting bereaved individuals in hospital, community, and hospice settings, and Tom Fenning, Pastor of Beccles Baptist Church. 

The event will begin from 7.30pm with doors opening at 7pm.