Member

It seems to me that the real question is: is it clear beyond doubt that that duty applies in the case of assisted dying? I would have thought it would, but it is not clear to me that it does. I say respectfully to the noble and learned Lord the promoter that I am really looking to the Minister for reassurance on this point because hospital doctors are employed by NHS trusts, so the Government must have a position on this. On this point, it would be unacceptable for the Minister to say, “Well, we’ll let you know what our view is if and when Parliament decides to pass the Act”. The Government must have a view on whether doctors employed by NHS trusts would be under this duty in respect of the provision of this service. So I look in particular to the Minister for that.