L

Lord Harper (Con)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 23 January 2026

Debate

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Contribution

I again apologise for not being a lawyer. I listened to this very carefully. I think there is a big gap here. The noble and learned Lord talked about the doctor, in effect, giving treatment to save the patient’s life. If the patient has expressed a clear and informed wish to die—I think this is the question that the noble Lord, Lord Stevens, asked—does the doctor owe a duty of care then to save the patient’s life? I do not think that that is clear at all. Doctors, I think, are asking what it is they are supposed to do. If they do not do anything and the patient dies and then it is found that they should have done something, that is incredibly serious. Doctors are asking for it to be put beyond doubt what they should do in those circumstances.

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