L

Lord Mackinlay of Richborough (Con)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 12 December 2025

Debate

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Contribution

There is a big issue here. Other states around the world which have had assisted dying for some time have differences of view. In Oregon, which has had assisted dying since 1997, there is a requirement to keep the mother alive for as long as possible, particularly when there is a viable foetus. The Netherlands takes a completely different view, with foeticide—where the foetus must be terminated by one means or another, often by intracardial injection of potassium chloride—before the mother can be euthanised. At which end of the scale does the noble and learned Lord prefer these things? The royal colleges are against this whole system, yet we will be relying on them to fill in the gaps in this legislation. It is incumbent upon us to fill in those gaps for them, because they are not keen on this.

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