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The Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill BillDignity in Dying is the joint-author of the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill, which was introduced into the House of Lords by Lord Joffe, who was Nelson Mandela' s lawyer. This section sets out the history of the Bill from its first introductions in 2003, and provides information on the important House of Lords Select Committee 2004/5 that conducted the world's most detailed enquiry into the issues surrounding medically assisted dying. Read the latest version of the Bill here Read Questions and Answers on the Bill here The purpose of the Bill is to give a competent terminally ill adult who is suffering unbearably the right to be able to ask for medical help to die. The Bill has 20 inter-related safeguards and the patient would be seen by a wide range of health professionals including two doctors. Only if the patient satisfies a lengthy set of criteria would he be allowed the option of receiving life-ending medication. The life-ending act must be done by the patient. The Bill is structured in such a way that it will encourage the patient to explore with health care professionals whether there might be an alternative to assisted dying. If there is such an alternative, like a change in the patient's medication, then the patient will be asked to consider this as an option. The whole purpose of the Bill is to make sure that all terminally ill patients have the fullest range of options at the end of life so that they can have the best death possible for themselves. For many patients, just having the option of an assisted death will give them a sense of control and autonomy, and take away the fear from the process of dying.
Assisted Dying Bill - 13/07/2007 12:55:07 History of the ADTI Bill - 22/05/2006 17:49:59
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