Understanding the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is a significant piece of legislation which has gone through a detailed and transparent Public Bill Committee process and has now been backed by a majority of MPs in Parliament.

The Bill addresses the request for an option for an adult to choose assisted dying to be put in a legal framework. It aims to provide terminally ill adults in England and Wales, who have mental capacity to make the relevant decision, with the legal right to request and be provided with assistance to end their own life, under strict safeguards and protections.

The passing of the Bill marks a historic shift in the legal landscape surrounding end-of-life decisions and care in the UK. It will now be debated in the House of Lords.

The important point to note, is that the proposed legislation has safeguards in place which means it will be legally compliant. 

Having personally given live expert evidence to Parliament during the passage of the Bill I know how hard many people have worked to carefully scrutinise the evidence so that the proposed new law includes clear eligibility rules and strong safeguards.  

The key points in the Bill include:

• Eligibility: The bill applies to adults living in England or Wales, diagnosed with a terminal illness, where the prognosis is that they have less than six months to live and they have capacity to make the relevant decision under the Mental Capacity Act 2005
• Safeguards: To ensure the decision is fully considered and voluntary, the bill includes several safeguards. These include assessments by two independent doctors,  a mandatory waiting period, referral to an expert panel who determine eligibility, provision for the Judicial Commissioner review process and the ability to apply for a Judicial Review. There are a number of other safeguards including the provision for an independent advocate for qualifying persons and a disability advisory board will be appointed.
• Assistance: Qualified medical professionals would be allowed to provide the necessary assistance, following strict protocols, to those who meet the criteria and choose to end their lives 
• New Offence: There will be a new criminal offence of using dishonesty, coercion or pressure to induce a person into the process 

The Bill was introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater and has sparked considerable debate across society and the political spectrum. It follows a history of similar legislative attempts, reflecting ongoing public and political interest in the issue of assisted dying.

We will now see the final passage of the Bill and with others we will help with contributions to professional guidance, education and training for all those involved. It is important that the human rights and dignity of those suffering terminal illnesses are properly protected.

Read more about how we help families with healthcare and end of life disputes.