B

Baroness Hayman (CB)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 6 February 2026

Debate

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Contribution

I understand that, and I understand that my mother would not have been considered to have committed suicide. What I am trying to say is that her desire for her life to end, and the method that she took to do that, was not assisted dying. That was not available to her and it did not come into the equation. On the categorisation of that as suicide, and this Bill is being called “assisted suicide”, I agree with the noble Baroness, Lady Fox, that we have to be clear. It is not that I am taking offence; I think that it is wrong to categorise people who wish their life to come to an end—and who therefore refuse treatment and food, or who choose assisted dying under the provisions of this Bill—as in some way committing suicide.

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