Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Deferred
Paragraph: 143
International examples demonstrate complexity of assisted dying debate, providing valuable lessons for the UK.
Conclusion
When we undertook this inquiry, we were keen to learn as much as we could from international examples and we hope that by putting the evidence we have gathered into the public domain, we can help to further inform the debate on AD/AS in the UK. The fact that people with very different overall views on AD/AS draw on international examples to support their arguments shows the complexity of the issue, but it is possible to look at what is happening elsewhere and to use it to learn more about this difficult and sensitive subject.
Government Response Summary
The government redirects responsibility for any change to the law regarding Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide to Parliament, stating it is a matter of conscience for individual parliamentarians rather than a government policy matter.
Paragraph Reference:
143
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The long-held position of successive UK governments is that any change to the law of England and Wales in this area is a matter for Parliament and an issue of conscience for individual parliamentarians rather than one for government policy. It would be for the UK Parliament to develop a specific proposal on AD/AS reform, not the Government, because this is a matter of conscience.