Draft Assisted Dying Bill consultation comes to an end with almost 500 submissions

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Choice at the End of Life, in partnership with Dignity in Dying launched a draft assisted dying Bill for consultation on 3rd July. The consultation ended today. The responses will feed into a report and an assisted dying Bill which Lord Falconer is expected to table in the New Year.

The consultation has resulted in 411 responses, most of which have been from members of the public and healthcare professionals. Organisations which responded include the Royal College of Nursing, the Motor Neurone Disease Association, the Church of England, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, Healthcare Professionals for Assisted Dying, and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Heidi Alexander MP, Chair of the APPG on Choice at the End of Life said:

“I am delighted to have received such an overwhelming response to the consultation – I am confident that with the input we have had from the general public, healthcare professionals and other experts that we will be able to provide the best legal framework possible to make safeguarded assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults a reality.

Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying said:

“We launched this consultation in the hope that it would help foster a constructive debate; it has done just that, and we look forward to working with the APPG and Lord Falconer to create a robust law which provides choice and protection to those suffering at the end of life.?

Ends.

Notes to editor:

Dignity in Dying:

– Dignity in Dying campaigns for greater choice, control and access to services at the end of life. It advocates providing terminally ill adults with the option of an assisted death, within strict legal safeguards, and for universal access to high quality end-of-life care.

– Dignity in Dying has over 25,000 supporters and receives its funding entirely from donations from the public.

Media Contacts:

For all Dignity in Dying media enquiries or questions ahead of the debate please contact Jo Cartwright on 020 7479 7737 / 07725433025 or at emailto:jo.cartwright@dignityindying.org.uk