According to a shocking report, doctors abroad are allowing people with eating disorders to end their lives.

The study found that over the past decade, at least 60 people with eating disorders, such as anorexia, have ended their lives in countries where euthanasia is permitted.

According to the researchers, this also affects parts of the USA – although euthanasia is only permitted there after the diagnosis of an incurable disease.

The warnings come amid growing pushes to legalise assisted suicide in the country after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he would give the House of Commons time to debate the issue.

Earlier this year, he said he was “personally committed to the change” and promised activist Dame Esther Rantzen – who has terminal lung cancer – that he would allow MPs to vote freely.

A shocking report claims that doctors in the USA, Belgium and the Netherlands are allowing people with eating disorders to end their lives (symbol image).

The warnings come amid growing momentum to legalise assisted dying in this country after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen (pictured right in 2020) – who is suffering from terminal lung cancer – that he would allow MPs to vote freely on it.

Labour peer Lord Falconer has unveiled his own proposals restricting the right to die to people suffering from a terminal illness who have six months or less to live. Campaign group Dignity In Dying said Lord Falconer’s proposals had “safety woven into his bill”.

Leading Labour MP Lord Falconer has already put forward his own detailed proposals limiting the right to die to people suffering from a terminal illness who have six months or less to live.

But last night, eating disorder expert Chelsea Roff, lead author of the report “Assisted Death in Eating Disorders,” expressed concern that the new law could be abused.

She told the MoS: “Our study has identified at least 60 cases in which doctors helped patients with eating disorders end their lives by using lethal drugs – including cases from the United States.”

“These findings should set off alarm bells for MPs, as this bill could endanger some of the most vulnerable groups in our society – people with disabilities, eating disorders and other mental illnesses.”

Their report found that in at least three cases in the United States, 22 in Belgium and over 30 in the Netherlands, an eating disorder was cited as the primary reason for requesting euthanasia.

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

Chief executive Sarah Wootton said: “Safety is built into this bill. It introduces practical measures to assess eligibility, ensure rigorous medical oversight and monitor every part of the process.”

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