A move to change the law to protect relatives and friends of the terminally ill who travel abroad for an assisted suicide was launched in Parliament today with backing from more than 100 MPs.

Patricia Hewitt, the former Health Secretary, tabled an amendment supported by MPs from all sides of the Commons to the Government’s Coroners and Justice Bill to protect such individuals from prosecution.

The move, to be debated on Monday, prompted immediate condemnation from opponents of assisted suicide, who warned that it would lead to “an opening of the floodgates”.

Peter Saunders, director of the Care Not Killing alliance, said that relaxing the law could lead to abuses.

“The Government is, commendably, trying to protect vulnerable people by tightening up the Suicide Act to outlaw internet websites that encourage suicide.

“And yet here we have the euthanasia lobby trying, at the same time and in the same Bill, to encourage suicide by removing any risk of prosecution for anyone assisting someone to go abroad for euthanasia or assisted suicide.

"The result would be a law that discouraged suicide with one hand and encouraged it with the other. That would be farcical as well as tragic.“

Pressure for legal reform has been fuelled by a series of high-profile cases, including that of the paralysed rugby player Daniel James, 23, who committed suicide at a clinic run by Dignitas in Switzerland last September.

Britain’s most senior judge, the Lord Chief Justice, and the Director of Public Prosecutions have also made statements indicating that prosecutions in such cases are unlikely to be brought.

Mark and Julie James, the parents of Mr James, from Sinton Green in Worcester, made payments to Dignitas, sent documents and made travel arrangements to take their son to Switzerland.

But Keir Starmer, QC, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said that although there was enough evidence to pursue charges, and a reasonable chance of securing a conviction, such a prosecution would not be in the public interest.

Last month Debbie Purdy, a multiple sclerosis sufferer, lost her Court of Appeal attempt to secure a guarantee from the DPP that no such charges would be brought if she took advantage of a foreign clinic.

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