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Select Committee · Health and Social Care Committee

Assisted dying/assisted suicide

Status: Closed Opened: 5 Dec 2022 Closed: 30 May 2024 6 recommendations 14 conclusions 1 report

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 … Show more

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Reports

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

Recommendations & Conclusions

7 items
2 Conclusion Second Report - Assisted Dying/Assisted… Accepted

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 and provided with as much agency and choice as possible. … Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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Department of Health and Social Care
4 Conclusion Second Report - Assisted Dying/Assisted… Accepted

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 AI summary
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.
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Department of Health and Social Care
6 Recommendation Second Report - Assisted Dying/Assisted… Accepted

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’ Assembly, it looks increasingly likely that at least one jurisdiction … Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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Department of Health and Social Care
13 Recommendation Second Report - Assisted Dying/Assisted… Accepted

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 life services, including hospice care at home. It is important … Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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Department of Health and Social Care
14 Recommendation Second Report - Assisted Dying/Assisted… Accepted

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 acquired by ICBs so that they can more fully understand … Read more

Government response AI summary
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 …
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Department of Health and Social Care
17 Conclusion Second Report - Assisted Dying/Assisted… Accepted

Existing data underscores the urgent need to improve support for terminally ill individuals.

We are pleased that the ONS in now attempting to monitor the rates of suicide for people with a terminal diagnosis, as this will facilitate scrutiny in the future. The existing data already serves as a sobering reminder that the support and care around people who are managing a terminal … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the report's focus on palliative and end-of-life care, stating it has already introduced significant improvements and that the UK is an international leader in this area, while recognizing more work is still needed.
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Department of Health and Social Care
19 Recommendation Second Report - Assisted Dying/Assisted… Accepted

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 AI summary
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 …
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Department of Health and Social Care

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
4 Jul 2023 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 View ↗
27 Jun 2023 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 View ↗
6 Jun 2023 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 View ↗
16 May 2023 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 View ↗
28 Mar 2023 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 View ↗

Who gave evidence

29 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Bernhard Sutter · Director EXIT (Deutsche Schweiz) 1
Dr Alexandra Mullock · Senior Lecturer in Healthcare Law and Co-Director… University of Manchester 1
Dr Chandana Banerjee · Associate Professor Hospice & Palliative Medicine City of Hope National Medical Center 1
Dr Gary Gheung · Associate Professor & Old Age Psychiatrist, Depar… University of Auckland 1
Dr Georg Bosshard · Practicing geriatrician and nursing home physicia… University of Zürich 1
Dr Lydia Dugdale · Director, Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, Col… Columbia University 1
Dr Matthew Doré · Honorary Secretary Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland 1
Dr Naomi Richards · Senior Lecturer in Social Science and Director of… University of Glasgow 1
Dr Paul Perkins · Chief Medical Director Sue Ryder 1
Dr Scott Kim · Adjunct Professor Psychiatry, University of Michi… Department of Bioethics at National Institutes of Health USA 1
Dr Yvonne Gilli · President Swiss Medical Association (FMH) 1
Helen Whately MP · Minister of State Department of Health and Social Care 1
Jonathan Ellis · Director of Policy, Advocacy & Clinical Programmes Hospice UK 1
Professor Brian Owler · Consultant Neurosurgeon at the Children’s Hospital Westmead, the Sydney Adventist Hospital, Norwest Private Hospital and Westmead Private Hospital 1
Professor Irene Tuffrey-Wijne · Professor of Intellectual Disability and Palliati… Kingston University London 1
Professor James Downar · Professor and Head, Division of Palliative Care University of Ottawa 1
Professor Jan L Bernheim · Oncologist, Emeritus Professor of medicine and me… Vrije Universiteit Brussels 1
Professor Nancy Preston · Professor of Supportive and Palliative Care University of Lancaster 1
Professor Roderick MacLeod former Senior Consultant and Senior Medical Specialist in Palliative Care — 1
Professor Rutger Jan van der Gaag · Professor of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychothe… Royal Dutch Medical Association 1
Professor Samia Hurst-Majno · Professor of Biomedical Ethics University of Geneva, and member of the Swiss National Advisory Commission on Biomedical Ethics 1
Professor Stephen Powis · National Medical Director NHS England 1
Professor Trudo Lemmens · Professor and Scholl Chair in Health Law and Poli… University of Toronto 1
Silvan Luley · Team member DIGNITAS - To live with dignity - To die with dignity 1
The Baroness Finlay of Llandaff — 1
The Baroness Hollins — 1
The Baroness Meacher — 1
The Hon Kyam Maher MLC · Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General… Government of South Australia 1
The Rt Hon. the Lord Falconer of Thoroton — 1

Correspondence

2 letters
DateDirectionTitle
17 Apr 2024 — GMC on the Committee's report on Assisted Dying - Assisted Suicide 25.03.24
21 Jun 2023 — Correspondence from the Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights on the Com…