Assisted dying: Your questions answered
Assisted dying continues to be in the headlines, as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill progresses through Parliament. But what could it all mean for terminally ill people? We answer some of the key questions.
What is the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill? Who will be eligible for assisted dying?
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is a private member’s bill. This is a bill introduced by a backbench MP, rather than the Government. It was introduced in the House of Commons on 16th October 2024 by Kim Leadbeater MP.
If the Bill passes, it would allow adults aged 18 or over who are terminally ill and expected to die within six months to request assistance to end their own life. They must have full mental capacity, and have been a resident in England or Wales for at least 12 months and registered with a GP.
What’s currently happening with the Bill?
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is progressing through Parliament. After going through several stages in the House of Commons (where several amendments were made), it is currently being debated by the House of Lords.
Here they will examine the Bill, propose amendments and vote on whether it should continue its journey to become law. This will continue into 2026.
Can I access assisted dying?
Assisted dying is currently illegal in the UK, so people cannot legally access assisted dying in the UK.
When will it be law? And when will it be available?
The Bill still must go through several stages in Parliament. If it passes all stages, it will then become law. This is unlikely to be until at least 2027. After this, it could take up to four years to be available.
What barriers will be put in place to protect people?
Two doctors will need to confirm that the person has made a voluntary choice, free from coercion. Their decision has to be confirmed at every stage of the process, and they can change their mind at any time.
Currently, the whole process will be overseen by an expert review panel, made up of a senior lawyer, a psychiatrist and a social worker. At least seven days have to pass between the two medical assessments, and a further 14 days after the decision by the panel.
Where would assisted dying take place?
At the moment the details of this are not known. We have asked MPs and peers (members of the House of Lords) to carefully consider which locations are suitable for assisted deaths to take place.
We believe there should be wide consultation carried out with palliative care staff, patients and residents at potential locations to assess the location’s suitability.
Do doctors at Sue Ryder ever help people who want an assisted death?
Assisted dying is illegal in the UK. It is important to us and the people we support in our hospices, and in their own homes, that we will always respect their individual needs and choices, and that our care is regulated and delivered in line with the law.
Does the Bill include any measures to make sure people can access palliative and end-of-life care?
The assisted dying debate has put a spotlight on palliative and end-of-life care, and MPs and peers across all parties have acknowledged the importance of high-quality care, whether the Bill becomes law or not.
When the Bill was debated in the House of Commons, several amendments were passed which will help to make sure the availability of good palliative care for everyone who needs it.
The Government will be required to publish an assessment of the current palliative care available, within one year of the Bill becoming law (Bill becomes an Act). And any initial conversation between a doctor and someone who expresses their wish for an assisted death must include discussion of any available palliative, hospice or other care.
How have Sue Ryder been engaging with the progress of the Bill?
Sue Ryder is neither for nor against assisted dying, but we have been engaging with MPs and peers throughout the process.
Our CEO James Sanderson gave evidence to the House of Commons parliamentary committee examining the Bill, and earlier this month, we held a joint briefing event in the House of Lords with Marie Curie, Hospice UK and Together for Short Lives.
This was an opportunity for peers to ask questions and hear from us about the impact the Bill could have on terminally ill people and end-of-life care.
We will continue to engage with the Bill throughout its journey through Parliament.
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