L

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown

Speaking in the House of Lords on 23 January 2026

Debate

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Contribution

I am very happy to address that matter. What the noble Lord, Lord Scriven, left out is as significant as what he said. I will come to that. Clause 12(2)(d) requires a doctor to “discuss with the person their wishes in the event of complications arising in connection with the self-administration of an approved substance”. Notice that it says “the self-administration of an approved substance”. That is somewhat different to what was mentioned a few moments before—that they want the doctor giving the injection. In Clause 39(1)(g), there is a requirement for the Secretary of State to issue a code of practice on “responding to unexpected complications that arise in relation to the administration of the approved substance”, and Clause 12(2)(c)(iv) requires the doctor to discuss “the nature of the substance … (including how it will bring about death and how it will be administered)”— but not that it may not be successful. The existing areas of medicine have guidance and case law on informed consent and risks, but the Bill creates an area of no guidance, no precedent and doctor confusion.

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