The Health and Social Care Committee has launched a new inquiry to examine different perspectives in the debate on assisted dying/assisted suicide.
The inquiry will explore the arguments across the debate with a focus on the healthcare aspects of assisted dying/assisted suicide. It intends to consider the role of medical professionals, access to palliative care, what protections would be needed to safeguard against coercion, and the criteria for eligibility to access assisted dying/assisted suicide services. MPs will also look at what can be learnt from international experiences.
Evidence sessions are expected to begin in the new year 2023. MPs will make their recommendations to the government on the next steps in a report following the inquiry.
We urge all of our supporters to contact their MPs to explain why the present law should be retained.
[Reposted from Not Dead Yet UK website]
SUBMITTING YOUR VIEWS
If you are an individual, you can let the government know your views by completing this online form. The responses will not be published but extracts from individual responses may be quoted anonymously in our report. An Easy Read version is available upon request, please email the Committee team on hsccom@parliament.uk.
If you are submitting on behalf of an organisation or as a researcher, or wish to make a detailed submission, you can submit formal written evidence through the portal. Please make sure your written submission is no more than 3,000 words and addresses the terms of reference below. Your submission does not have to answer every question; it can focus on as many or as few as you want.
- To what extent do people in England and Wales have access to good palliative care? How can palliative care be improved, and would such improvements negate some of the arguments for assisted dying/assisted suicide?
- What can be learnt from the evidence in countries where assisted dying/assisted suicide is legal?
- What are the professional and ethical considerations involved in allowing physicians to assist someone to end their life?
- What, if any, are the physical and mental health criteria which would make an individual eligible to access assisted dying/assisted suicide services?
- What protections could be put in place to protect people from coercion and how effective would these be?
- What information, advice and guidance would people need in order to be able to make an informed decision about whether to access assisted dying/assisted suicide services?
- What capabilities would a person need to be able to consent to assisted dying /assisted suicide?
- What should the Government’s role be in relation to the debate?
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.”
ABOUT THE ISSUES
Not Dead Yet UK resources including Frequently Asked Questions and videos – Resources – Not Dead Yet UK
Article by Jamie Hale in The Guardian – We are told we are a burden. Legalising assisted suicide would further devalue our lives | Jamie Hale | The Guardian
