The Augustine Bioethics Network is making available more resources on assisted suicide and euthanasia, some of which specifically relate to a Bill introduced in the House of Commons that would legalise a doctor to encourage or assist the suicide of a patient with a progressive illness that could be terminal if untreated.
On Friday 11 September 2026, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will receive Second Reading in the House of Commons. This Bill, which was introduced by Lauren Edwards MP, is virtually identical to a previous Bill sponsored by Kim Leadbeater MP that received its Third Reading in June 2025, was passed in the Commons with a narrow majority (much reduced from Second Reading) and failed in the House of Lords through the weight of criticism and lack of time.
The two minor changes that have been made to the earlier Bill (one on eating disorders and one on implementation of the Bill in Wales) do not mitigate the grave dangers of the Bill to vulnerable people. The structural flaws that were identified in the Commons and in the Lords remain. The new Bill has not been endorsed by any professional medical association, any disability group, or any suicide prevention organisation.
The vote after Second Reading on 11 September will be an opportunity to prevent this dangerous Bill from become law. ABN is recommending to all those with concerns about the Bill to contact their MP. To help inform letters or discussions, ABN has provided some Advice on writing or speaking to your Member of Parliament.
ABN also has resources on assisted suicide which you may find useful. These include:
- Why we must not legalise ‘assisted dying’ – a short paper with 8 reasons not to
- Suicide prevention and ‘assisted dying’ – 20 questions focused on the present Bill
- The Bill’s progress in the Commons – how the Bill became ‘ever more dangerous’
- Why the Bill is not good law – a briefing from a group at King’s College, London
- No safe spaces– how the Bill fails to protect care homes and hospices
- The adverse impact on palliative care – and other videos on euthanasia and assisted suicide
- Other resources on euthanasia and assisted suicide
Other Useful Sources of Information:
- Better Off Dead? A BBC Documentary by Liz Carr
- Care Not Killing
- Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales: Oppose Assisted Suicide
- Living and Dying Well
- Not Dead Yet UK
- Our Duty of Care
- Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill resources produced by Alex Ruck Keene
