UK Inquiry Tracker

Assisted dying/assisted suicide

Health and Social Care Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 5 Dec 2022 Closed: 30 May 2024 Parliament page

The Health and Social Care Committee is holding an inquiry into assisted dying/assisted suicide. The deadline for submitting written evidence or responding to our online form has now passed. We are publishing the written evidence we have received on the publications page of the inquiry. Please note that the written … Read more The Health and Social Care Committee is holding an inquiry into assisted dying/assisted suicide. The deadline for submitting written evidence or responding to our online form has now passed. We are publishing the written evidence we have received on the publications page of the inquiry. Please note that the written evidence and roundtable transcripts contains details that some readers might find distressing. We are currently holding oral evidence sessions for this inquiry. Details are available below. Terminology The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology briefing note on assisted dying defines the term as follows: “Assisted dying refers here to the involvement of healthcare professionals in the provision of lethal drugs intended to end a patient’s life at their voluntary request, subject to eligibility criteria and safeguards. It includes healthcare professionals prescribing lethal drugs for the patient to self-administer (‘physician-assisted suicide’) and healthcare professionals administering lethal drugs (‘euthanasia’). It is an offence (in England and Wales) to assist or encourage another person’s suicide under section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961. Euthanasia is illegal across the UK under the Homicide Act 1957 and could be prosecuted as murder or manslaughter.” Safeguarding and support If you have immediate concerns about yourself or someone else, you should contact the Police on 999. In addition to your GP, the following organisations may be able to offer support or further information: Samaritans – Support and guidance for everyone. Call 116 123 - 24 hours a day every day or Email jo@samaritans.org The Silver Line - Support for older people; a free confidential helpline providing "information, friendship and advice" to people aged 55 and over, and support for "older people who are suffering abuse and neglect"; open 24 hours a day every day. Call 0800 4 70 80 90 Mind - For information, advice, and support for anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Call: 0300 123 3393. Show less

6 Recommendations

14 Conclusions

1 Report

5 Oral sessions

2 Letters

5 Events

Activity timeline 14 events

9 May
2024

Report published

Third Special Report - Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide: Government Response to the Committee's Second Report of Session 2023-24

17 Apr
2024

Correspondence

GMC on the Committee's report on Assisted Dying - Assisted Suicide 25.03.24

29 Feb
2024

Report published

Second Report - Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide

4 Jul
2023

Oral evidence

Oral evidence session

4 Jul
2023

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster

Committee event

27 Jun
2023

Oral evidence

Oral evidence session

27 Jun
2023

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster

Committee event

21 Jun
2023

Correspondence

Correspondence from the Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights on the Committee's inquiry into assisted dying-assisted suicide 08.06.…

6 Jun
2023

Oral evidence

Oral evidence session

6 Jun
2023

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster

Committee event

16 May
2023

Oral evidence

Oral evidence session

16 May
2023

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House

Committee event

Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions

4 Jul 2023

View on parliament.uk

Dr Matthew Doré · Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland Dr Paul Perkins · Sue Ryder Helen Whately MP · Department of Health and Social Care Jonathan Ellis · Hospice UK Professor Stephen Powis · NHS England

27 Jun 2023

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Bernhard Sutter · EXIT (Deutsche Schweiz) Dr Georg Bosshard · University of Zürich Dr Yvonne Gilli · Swiss Medical Association (FMH) Professor Samia Hurst-Majno · University of Geneva, and member of the Swiss National Advisory Commission on Biomedical Ethics Silvan Luley · DIGNITAS - To live with dignity - To die with dignity

6 Jun 2023

View on parliament.uk

Dr Scott Kim · Department of Bioethics at National Institutes of Health USA Professor Irene Tuffrey-Wijne · Kingston University London Professor James Downar · University of Ottawa Professor Jan L Bernheim · Vrije Universiteit Brussels Professor Rutger Jan van der Gaag · Royal Dutch Medical Association Professor Trudo Lemmens · University of Toronto

16 May 2023

View on parliament.uk

Dr Chandana Banerjee · City of Hope National Medical Center Dr Gary Gheung · University of Auckland Dr Lydia Dugdale · Columbia University Professor Brian Owler · Westmead, the Sydney Adventist Hospital, Norwest Private Hospital and Westmead Private Hospital Professor Roderick MacLeod former Senior Consultant and Senior Medical Specialist in Palliative Care The Hon Kyam Maher MLC · Government of South Australia

28 Mar 2023

View on parliament.uk

Dr Alexandra Mullock · University of Manchester Dr Naomi Richards · University of Glasgow Professor Nancy Preston · University of Lancaster The Baroness Finlay of Llandaff The Baroness Hollins The Baroness Meacher The Rt Hon. the Lord Falconer of Thoroton

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Second Report - Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide	HC 321	29 Feb 2024	20	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

6 results

2 Conclusion Accepted

Second Report - Assisted Dying/Ass…

End-of-life care: common desire for a good death, diverse views on achieving it.

Throughout our inquiry, a common theme across the evidence was the pursuit of the very best end of life care, and what many witnesses called “a good death”, where the person dying was cared for with compassion and high-quality care … Read more

Government Response

The government details ongoing work and existing policies aimed at improving end-of-life care, including mandatory commissioning for Integrated Care Boards, statutory guidance from NHS England, the development of a palliative care dashboard, and recognition of personalised care in the Major Conditions Strategy.

Department of Health and Social Care

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4 Conclusion Accepted

Second Report - Assisted Dying/Ass…

Individuals have assisted loved ones in pursuing assisted dying abroad.

During our inquiry we have heard statements from people who have been involved in assisting a loved one to pursue AD/AS abroad.

Government Response

The government is investing £3 million in a new Palliative and End of Life Care Policy Research Unit to build the evidence base for all-age palliative and end-of-life care, and highlights existing NHS Talking Therapies services for mental health support.

Department of Health and Social Care

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6 Recommendation Accepted

Second Report - Assisted Dying/Ass…

Require UK Government to prepare for legislative divergence on assisted dying in UK jurisdictions.

The UK Government must consider how to respond to another jurisdiction in the UK, or the Crown Dependencies, legislating to allow AD/AS, and how it may impact jurisdictions which do not allow it. Following the recommendation by the Jersey Citizens’ … Read more

Government Response

The government confirms it will discuss with devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies the practical and constitutional implications for England and Wales should any assisted dying/suicide legislation be enacted elsewhere.

Department of Health and Social Care

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13 Recommendation Accepted

Second Report - Assisted Dying/Ass…

Ensure universal coverage of palliative and end of life care services, including hospice care at home.

The UK has long been a world leader in palliative and end of life care, but access to and provision of palliative and end of life care is patchy. The Government must ensure universal coverage of palliative and end of … Read more

Government Response

The government highlights that palliative care is now a mandated commission for ICBs, supported by statutory guidance. NHS England is further ensuring consistency by including palliative care in performance discussions from April 2024 and developing an all-age palliative and end-of-life care dashboard.

Department of Health and Social Care

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14 Recommendation Accepted

Second Report - Assisted Dying/Ass…

Integrated Care Boards need better population data to understand and support service provision.

As identified in the report of the HSIB (now the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB)) on variations in palliative care services to adults, we agree that better data on the population within an ICB catchment area needs to be … Read more

Government Response

The government states the NHS is already required to commission appropriate palliative and end-of-life care services. Palliative care services were added to the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission, promoting a more consistent national approach and supporting commissioners in prioritising palliative and end-of-life care and that NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications to support ICBs in this duty, further work is ongoing including NHS England including palliative and end-of-life care in the list of topics for its regular performance discussions between national and regional leads, and NHS England commissioning the development of an all-age palliative and end of life care dashboard, which brings together relevant local data in one place.

Department of Health and Social Care

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19 Recommendation Accepted

Second Report - Assisted Dying/Ass…

Commission research into providing better mental health support and guidance for terminally ill people.

There is a pressing need to understand how to better provide mental health support, and guidance, for people who are living with a terminal diagnosis. We therefore recommend that the Government commission such research and report back to Parliament.

Government Response

The government has accepted the recommendation by investing £3 million through the National Institute for Health and Care Research into a new Palliative and End Of Life Care Policy Research Unit to build the evidence base. It also highlights existing NHS Talking Therapies and a priority for integrating mental and physical health services for those with long-term conditions.

Department of Health and Social Care

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Government Response AI assessment · 17 of 6 classified

Accepted 6

Accepted in Part 1

Deferred 9

Rejected 1

Total 6 recs + 14 conclusions

Correspondence 2 letters

17 Apr 2024 GMC on the Committee's report on Assisted Dying - Assisted Suicide 25.03.24

Parliament page

21 Jun 2023 Correspondence from the Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights on the Committee's inquiry into assisted dying-assisted suicide 08.06.23

Parliament page