Assisted dying

Together for Short Lives does not have a single agreed view about the ethical or moral philosophical basis for assisted dying or assisted suicide. We represent those who support the general purpose, some who oppose it and some who are uncertain.

Assisted dying is an extremely complex issue with many ethical and moral questions at its heart, not to mention the understandably strong emotions it evokes across all parts of society.

If assisted dying were to be legalised, there would be a number of significant implications for seriously ill children and young people, their families and the professionals and services that provide them with care and support. Legislation would need to carefully consider these implications and adopt appropriate safeguarding measures where necessary, whilst also ensuring young people still have the essential ability to choose their own care.

Not only should these implications be recognised and accounted for, but it must also be acknowledged that access to high quality palliative care for children and young people depends on where they live. This is a result of severe workforce shortages, significant funding gaps and a lack of accountability among local NHS bodies and councils that the UK’s governments must urgently address.

We cannot allow a scenario in which young adults choose an assisted death because they are unable to access the palliative care they need, when and where they need it.

Key considerations

There are a number of key considerations for seriously ill children and young people, their families and the professionals and services that provide them with care and support

• Professional competencies: Given the differences between children and adults, both physically and developmentally, providers providing these services would need specific competencies in children and young people.
• Medicines: Jurisdictions would need to specify which medicines could be prescribed for the assisted death, and determine the form and manner in which they should be administered.
• Competence, Capacity, and Parental Responsibility: Complex questions on whether parents or children can request an assisted death, and how to assess best interests, would need addressing.
• Service Provision: It would need to be clarified whether assisted dying would operate as a specialist service and whether it would be part of the NHS. Clarity would also be required on whether palliative care provider organisations can opt-out without legal consequences.
• Funding and Conscience Objection: Providers’ rights to conscientiously object must be protected and funding should not depend on offering assisted dying.

Any changes in the law should ensure that best practices in palliative care are protected, and that clinicians can continue open discussions with families about end-of-life care choices. Clear guidance is also needed on how legislation would affect young people with life-limiting conditions across a range of scenarios.

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (UK Parliament)

If enacted, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will give terminally ill people in England and Wales the right to choose to end their life. The Bill follows Lord Falconer’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill, that was introduced in the House of Lords in July 2024.

On 29 November 2024, MPs voted to pass Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at its second reading. Since then, the Bill has undergone scrutiny in the Public Bill Committee where some key changes were made to the Bill. These include replacing the High Court signoff with a panel of experts, including a psychiatrist and a social worker, and extending the maximum implementation period to 4 years, meaning if passed, the Bill must be in force by 2029.

While the Bill’s focus is on adults, it could have potential implications for seriously ill children, young people, their families, and the professionals and services who support them.

As the Bill now returns to the whole House of Commons for its report stage, we urge MPs to carefully examine these possible implications and ensure sufficient safeguards are incorporated. While we do not take a position on the ethical and philosophical basis of assisted dying, we believe it is essential that these concerns are addressed.

To this end, we have produced a detailed briefing that proposes a series of amendments seeking to address these concerns.

We urge MPs to consider these amendments when scrutinising the Bill.

You can read our briefing here.

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill

In Scotland, Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur has introduced the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill. This Bill proposes those with a terminal illness, aged 16 and over, who are eligible in Scotland, to be able to lawfully request, and be provided with, assistance by health professionals to end their own life.

Following the Bill’s introduction, the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee opened a call for evidence on the Bill.

You can read our response to the call for evidence here.