M

Member

Speaking in the House of Lords on 14 November 2025

Debate

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Contribution

“Ability” is a broader and, of course, less technical term that refers to a person’s general competence or skill to do something. It does not have the same strict legal or clinical criteria as “capacity”, but we should not be afraid of that if it is more relevant for an end-of-life Bill. “Ability” may refer to a wider range of actions, including physical, cognitive or practical skills. Conversely, a person may have the ability to make a decision in a practical sense, even if they lack legal capacity as formally defined.

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