Member

Another problem is that, as drafted, the Bill will allow any doctor to raise assisted dying with any patient, regardless of whether they are under their care at the time or whether, for example, a locum doctor has temporary care of a patient, even for one day. The solution suggested in Amendments 155 to 157 would preclude any doctor from raising the issue with a patient who has previously considered assisted dying and rejected it or who has opted out. Further amendments would ensure that doctors would be legally permitted to raise assisted dying only with people who are genuinely under their care, not with any person they encounter. The solution offered in Amendment 158 would require that the doctor must have known the patient for six months.