Member

Amendment 38 from the noble Baroness, Lady Grey-Thompson, would require a further eligibility requirement. This is shortening it, but people should look at it. Anyone who has ever been subject to a psychotic condition or other mental illness that causes episodic or chronic suicidal ideation, or might be subject to it now, would not be able to have an assisted death. That is shortening it, but that is basically what she is proposing. I am strongly against putting that in, unfortunately. The whole purpose of the provisions—the two doctors and the panel—is that they are checking whether you have the capacity and it is your wish. If you have capacity and it is your wish, you should be entitled to an assisted death. Again, it is your choice. It may very well be that the sorts of condition the noble Baroness refers to in her amendment would be red flags for the two doctors and the panel, but they should not rule it out completely. Having thought very carefully about it, I do not think that would be an appropriate amendment.