Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Deferred
Diverse assisted dying models exist; better data collection and independent oversight are crucial.
Conclusion
There are as many ways to operate AD/AS as there are jurisdictions which have legalised it, but there are two distinct models: one limiting its availability to those with a terminal illness and the other adding provision for unbearable suffering. What has become clear to us is that better data collection, independently verified and overseen by a dedicated body, leads to a better understanding of how the whole AD/AS process is working. The overall trend is that numbers of AD/AS will increase from the time of introduction, but opinions differ about the cause of the increase. Many of the jurisdictions we have looked at introduced AD/AS very recently, and there is still much to learn as time passes. (Paragraph 144) Involvement of physicians and assessments of eligibility and capacity to give informed consent
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.
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.