Euthanasia and Assisted Dying

Lord Joffe’s Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill, which sought to legalise what it called “assisted dying”, was defeated on its second reading in the House of Lords on 12 May 2006 by a margin of 148 votes to 100. There is no current Bill before parliament on either assisted dying or euthanasia. NCPC opposed Lord Joffe’s Bill.

There has been considerable activity in the House of Lords on this issue over the last few years. Lord Joffe introduced a Bill in 2003, and a further Bill, also called the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill, in 2004. The 2004 Bill was considered by a special Select Committee of the House of Lords, which reported on 4th April 2005. The Select Committee did not reach a conclusion on the principle of whether assisted dying or euthanasia should become legal, but identified a number of issues which would need to be addressed in any future legislation.

NCPC published a detailed response to the Select Committee report. We welcomed the balanced nature of the report, and particularly the way it identified the significant issues and gaps in the evidence that need to be addressed before a decision whether or not to legalise assisted dying or voluntary euthanasia could safely be made. In view of the magnitude of what is involved, we believe that unless and until those issues can be resolved, it would not be right to change the law.

NCPC has established a collaborative of interested organisations which is seeking to commission research into these issues and obtain further evidence. It is anticipated that the first research report will be published at the end of 2008 or the beginning of 2009.

We welcome the fact that, out of 90 speeches in the House of Lords debate on the Bill on 12th May 2006, 60 referred to palliative care. Many peers spoke very strongly in support of the need to ensure that all patients who need it have access to palliative care.

To read the single-page Executive Summary of NCPC's response to the House of Lords Select Committee report on the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill, click here.  (23KB)

The full response contains a detailed analysis of all the ethical and practical issues raised in Select Committee's report, and sets them in the context of current developments in palliative care. To order a copy of the full 36-page publication, please click here.

NCPC published an analysis of the 2005 Bill, considering it in the light of the Select Committee's report. To order a copy please click here.

Written evidence to the select committee - Summary  (19KB)

Written evidence to the select committee  (82KB)

The text of the Bill, together with the Select Committee’s report, can be found at the Select Committee’s website: