Member

The essence of Amendment 39 is that there should be a higher standard for an assisted death for those in care homes. The words used in the amendment are “a heightened evidential standard”. For many people, a care home is their final home. I recognise all the risks there may be in relation to it. But again, the whole purpose of the safeguards—two doctors and a panel—is to ensure that they have capacity and it is their genuine, firm and settled wish. I do not think it is necessary for there to be a higher evidential standard in relation to that. Again, once the scheme starts, one would very much expect that the terms of the safeguards would be well able to deal with that particular position.