This paper published by Politeia in September 2025 examines the initial progress of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill through the House of Commons from September 2024 to June 2025 and the shape of the Bill as it entered the House of Lords.
It shows how the scrutiny process in the Commons was cursory and unbalanced. The Public Bill Committee initially tried to exclude the Royal College of Psychiatrists from giving evidence. Over 90 amendments tabled by MPs other than the sponsor came to a vote, but all but 2 were ‘negatived by division’. The Committee missed the opportunity to improve the Bill and weakened or removed safeguards that had been included. The Bill presented at Third Reading was worse than at Second Reading and passed with a much-reduced majority. Some MPs expressly stated that remaining flaws would have to be addressed in the House of Lords.
Among the flaws were:
It permits doctors to ‘encourage’ patients to take their own life.
It misuses the Mental Capacity Act 2005 as a test for the decision to take your own life.
It defines ‘terminal’ illness to include people who could live for many years with appropriate and available treatment.
It fails to protect against coercion and undue influence.
It prioritises ‘access’ over safety.
It drops the requirement in the Bill for judicial scrutiny prior to assisting suicide.
It contains no conscience protection for hospices or care homes.
