Current law

Currently, it is a criminal offence to assist another individual with their suicide. However, it is a partial defence to murder to kill as part of a suicide pact. This means, if the jury are convinced that your action was part of a suicide pact, you will be convicted of manslaughter rather than murder.

Proposed new law

A new bill, called The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is currently being reviewed in the House of Commons and Lords to allow assisted suicide.

The purpose of this bill is to allow terminally ill people to have the right to end their life. It states that anyone who wants to end their life must:

  • Be over 18 and live in England or Wales, and have been registered with a GP for at least 12 months
  • Have the mental capacity to make the choice and be deemed to have expressed a clear, settled and informed wish, free from coercion or pressure
  • Be expected to die within 6 months
  • Make two separate declarations, witnesses and signed, about their wish to die
  • Satisfy two independent doctors that they are eligible, with at least 7 days between each assessment

A High Court Judge would be required to make a ruling each time a person requests to end their life. Once a ruling has been passed, the patient would need to wait 14 days, allowing them a period of reflection.

A doctor would prepare the drug that would then be administered by the patient. The bill does not state what drug would be used.

The bill states it would be a criminal offence to use coercion or dishonestly to pressure someone in to declaring they want to end their life and would carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

The bill must pass through 5 parliamentary stages handled by members of parliament and 5 more by peers and further voting.

The Assisted Dying Bill represents a profound shift in how society views and legislates end-of-life choices. While it has the potential to bring relief and dignity to those facing terminal illness, it also challenges longstanding legal and ethical norms. As the bill progresses through Parliament, its implications will ripple across the medical, legal, and social landscapes.