Assisted Dying: International Evidence and Policy and Ethical Implications for whether it can be integrated into the NHS

Keywords

assisted dying, Terminally Ill Adults (end of life) Bill

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Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation

Professor Suzanne Ost - Keynote speaker
Professor Nancy Preston - Keynote speaker

11/09/2025

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The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is currently being reviewed by the House of Lords after MPs voted in favour of it in June 2025. If the bill is passed by Parliament, assisted dying that is carried out in accordance with its provisions will no longer be illegal in England and Wales. Assisted dying outside its provisions will remain unlawful and punishable by up to 14 years in prison. In Scotland, there is no specific law against assisted dying, but assisting a suicide could be prosecuted under culpable homicide. It is legal for a person seeking an assisted death to travel abroad for assisted dying (e.g. to Switzerland), but this comes with a risk of prosecution against those who help and there are no legal safeguards in place in the UK for those who opt for this route. While surveys show strong public support, with research from October 2024 by the Policy Institute and the Complex Life and Death Decisions Group at King’s College London indicating 63% of people in England and Wales support the current bill, there are still concerns about the threat of coercion and end of life care for vulnerable individuals. However, in Scotland, polling from March 2024 by Opinium research shows 78% of Scots support such a move. Support for assisted dying tends to be highest among older adults and lowest among religious groups. Support drops when extended to non-terminal conditions (e.g. mental illness or disability alone), however. Key provisions of the bill include: eligibility for adults diagnosed with a terminal illness and a life expectancy of six months or less; the requirement for two independent doctors to confirm the diagnosis and assess the patient's mental capacity; a mandatory waiting period between assessments; and an expert panel, including a legal expert, psychiatrist, and social worker, to oversee each case, replacing the initial proposal for High Court approval. An amendment ensuring that medical professionals are not obligated to participate in assisted dying procedures was also approved by parliamentarians. A similar bill on assisted dying is also making its way through the Scottish Parliament, although in May 2025 21 MSPs threatened to drop their support for the bill, warning that they would switch sides and oppose the bill unless changes were made to address major concerns. Furthermore, support is more nuanced when the discussion includes broader scenarios, like chronic conditions or mental health. Key concerns centred on issues of safeguarding and eligibility criteria include questions around: who qualifies (e.g. terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less, unbearable suffering); mental capacity assessments; independent medical opinions; waiting periods and procedural safeguards to prevent coercion. Some disability advocacy groups oppose assisted dying as they fear it may create pressure (explicit or implicit) on disabled people to end their lives, especially amid systemic healthcare and social support failings. This symposium will provide an opportunity for NHS practitioners, social care providers, local authorities, professional regulators, voluntary organisations and other stakeholders to consider how assisted dying in the UK and the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill could be shaped to help address public and professional concerns, including the most effective safeguard.

Event

Title	The Future of Assisted Dying in the UK<br/>
Date	11/09/25 → 11/09/25
Website	https://www.publicpolicyexchange.co.uk/event.php?eventUID=PPE-PI11
Location	Webinar
City
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
Degree of recognition	National event

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Assisted Dying: International Evidence and Policy and Ethical Implications for whether it can be integrated into the NHS

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Research

Keywords

Assisted Dying: International Evidence and Policy and Ethical Implications for whether it can be integrated into the NHS

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Related research outputs

Should Assisted Dying be Part of Mainstream Healthcare?

Breaching the stalemate on assisted dying: it’s time to move beyond a medicalised approach

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