Member

It is a tragic fact in our country that suicide is now one of the leading causes of death for young people. When a child expresses a wish to die, our national response is about safeguarding, compassion, referral, care and support. My amendment therefore seeks to provide clarity for clinicians: if a minor raises assisted dying, the doctor must refuse to discuss it, beyond explaining that the person is ineligible; the interaction must be recorded; and the young person must be referred for mental health support. In other words, when a minor expresses a wish to die, we should treat that not merely as an inquiry about their eligibility but as a serious safeguarding event.