B

Baroness Cass (CB)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 23 January 2026

Debate

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Contribution

The GMC guidance would need to be amended because, at present, there is specific advice on guidance around supporting patients at end of life. It says: “Where patients raise the issue of assisting them to end their own life, or ask for information that might encourage or assist them in doing so, respect for a patient’s autonomy cannot justify illegal action … Medical professionals should … be prepared to listen and to discuss the reasons for the patient's request”, but “limit any advice or information in response, to … an explanation that it is a criminal offence for anyone to encourage or assist a person to commit or attempt suicide”. The current GMC guidance precludes all this and would therefore have to be changed should this Bill go through.

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