Important Update: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – July 2025

24th Jul 2025

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was introduced to the House of Commons for parliamentary scrutiny in October 2024 by MP Kim Leadbeater. The End of Life Bill proposes to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults with six months or less to live, subject to safeguards and protections. A person is “terminally ill” if they have a progressive illness or disease that cannot be reversed by treatment.

Following a second reading in November 2024, the Commons sent the bill to a Public Bill Committee for more detailed clause by clause scrutiny. The amended version included the proposal for an applicant’s submission to be considered by a multi-disciplinary panel of experts: a senior lawyer (e.g. a High Court judge), a consultant psychiatrist and a social worker. This replaces the single role of a High Court judge in the original version of the Bill. At a third reading on 20th June, MPs voted in favour of the End of Life Bill, which will now continue its passage in the House of Lords in its amended form. As well as the amendments added to the bill in committee, others include:

·      Wider definition of who can opt out of assisting the process beyond doctors, to include people such as social workers and pharmacists

·      Prohibiting the advertising of assisted dying (a clause extending to Scotland too)

·      Ban on health professionals discussing assisted dying with patients under 18 years old

In its current form, the Bill encompasses detailed legislation for eligibility and protection of patients, medical supervision throughout the process, judicial oversight in implementation, as well as safety and monitoring of practice. This includes ensuring appropriates measures are taken to ensure that the person has a clear, settled and informed wish to end their own life and have not been coerced or pressured into making that decision. The bill will follow similar legislative stages in the Lords, where it underwent the first reading on 23rd June. Assisted dying is currently legal in Australia, New Zealand, USA (in 10 states), Canada, 3 countries in South America (Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador) and 9 countries in Europe. 

The British Pain Society (BPS) has adopted a position of neutrality on the moral and ethical issues surrounding assisted dying. Regardless of the outcome of the Bill, the BPS will:

• Continue to campaign to optimise pain care for those most affected
• Advocate for equally available, adequately funded palliative care services across all parts of the UK
• Support implementation of any new legal framework, ensuring the safe and consistent care of people with terminal illness and pain
• Facilitate discussion and reflection across our membership, including through upcoming events and publications

We will update our position, as appropriate, once the legislative picture becomes clearer. In the meantime, we continue to engage with government and national medical bodies as part of our commitment to reducing pain and suffering.

Any questions or comments please contact us.