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 9 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

27 Jun
2023

Oral evidence

Oral evidence session

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

16 May
2023

Oral evidence

Oral evidence session

28 Mar
2023

Oral evidence

Oral evidence session

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

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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

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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

2 results

16 Conclusion Not Addressed

Second Report - Assisted Dying/Ass…

Committee expresses deep sadness over experiences of loved ones taking their own life.

We were extremely saddened to read and hear about the experiences of people who had experienced a loved one taking their own life, and our thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with them.

Government Response

The government's response broadly discusses the report's focus on palliative and end-of-life care and the department's existing work, but does not specifically address the committee's expression of sadness and sympathy for those who lost loved ones to suicide.

Department of Health and Social Care

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18 Conclusion Not Addressed

Second Report - Assisted Dying/Ass…

No current medical intervention can manage every symptom or pain for terminally ill patients.

We have heard a lot of evidence around the importance of a “good death” for both the person managing their terminal diagnosis, and their loved ones. Suffering, pain and managing a terminal diagnosis will be a subjective experience, unique to … Read more

Government Response

The government's response broadly discusses its efforts in palliative and end-of-life care and the UK's leadership, but does not specifically address the committee's observations on the subjective nature of a 'good death' or the current limitations of medical interventions for all symptoms.

Department of Health and Social Care

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Government Response AI assessment · 20 of 6 classified

Accepted 7

Accepted in Part 1

Deferred 9

Not Addressed 2

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