Resources on ‘Assisted Dying’ (Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide)
On Friday 29th November, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill introduced by Kim Leadbeater MP will receive Second Reading in the House of Commons. The Bill would legalise physician-assisted suicide for those who are terminally ill (definition pending), and if successful would introduce doctor involvement in causing the death of their patients into law and medical practice in England and Wales. The vote after the Second Reading debate will decide whether MPs wish to accept the Bill in principle and move it through the Parliamentary process to become law.
At the same time, in Ireland Deputy Gino Kenny has introduced the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2024 which would legalise physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia for adult Irish citizens who have a ‘terminal illness’ (defined broadly), and in Scotland Liam McArthur MSP's Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, would legalise physician-assisted suicide for residents in Scotland who are over 16 and have a ‘terminal illness’ (defined very broadly) is currently being examined by the Holyrood Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee.
In light of these various legislative actions, the Anscombe Bioethics Centre would like to inform prior public debate and discourse, and enable informed correspondence between members of the public and their elected representatives, by highlighting key resources produced by the Centre on the issue of euthanasia and assisted suicide (EAS), often referred to as ‘assisted dying’.
Please find these below, and check this page often as it will frequently be updated with new resources.
This page sets out what is being proposed on this topic in England and Wales, in Ireland and in Scotland and gives advice on contacting your elected representative.
A short summary of some key arguments against legalising assisted suicide.
A guide to evidence from jurisdictions where euthanasia or assisted suicide has become legal. It has sections on parliamentary reports, official statistics, public opinion, medical opinion, special sections on Switzerland, the Netherlands, Oregon, Belgium and Canada, and special sections on disability, suicide prevention and gender. This has been updated to reflect the most recent evidence and data since the guide was last changed in 2022.
These are a series of papers on different aspects such as:
- The ambivalence of public opinion on assisted suicide;
- The impact of assisted suicide on palliative care;
- Defining what is meant by ‘assisted dying’ – euthanasia and assisted suicide;
- ‘Slippery slope’ arguments;
- Religious views;
- Autonomy and choice;
- Euthanasia for mental illness in Canada;
- Euthanasia experience in Belgium and palliative care;
- Dementia;
- Disability;
- Suicide prevention.
Here is the YouTube playlist of all our videos relating to EAS, including the following from our 2022 Conference, ‘Suicide Prevention and Assisted Suicide: Legal, Clinical and Ethical Perspectives’:
- `Our right to be protected from suicide’ (Professor David Albert Jones & Dr Gavin Ashenden)
- ‘The Right To Be Protected From Suicide’ (Professor Jonathan Herring)
- ‘Ethical Premises & Practical Challenges in Suicide Prevention When MAiD is a Legal Option’ (Professor Brian Mishara)
- Interview: ‘Does Assisted Suicide Influence the Rate of Non-Assisted Suicide?’ (Professor Patricia Casey and Dr Anne Doherty)
- ‘Physician-assisted Suicide & Suicide Prevention – The Arguments’ (Professor David Albert Jones)
- ‘Physician-assisted Suicide & Suicide Rates – The Evidence’ (Professor David Paton)
The Anscombe Bioethics Centre would commend Julian Hughes and Ilora Finlay (eds) The Reality of Assisted Dying. This book, which was published last month, is a very accessible set of papers by different authors. It includes, among others, a chapter by the Director on suicide prevention and a chapter by Professor John Keown on the flaws in common arguments made in favour of assisted suicide.
Other useful sources can be found via:
- Care Not Killing
- Living and Dying Well
- CBCEW page on Opposing Assisted Suicide
- Not Dead Yet UK
- Documentary featuring experts from medicine and palliative care created by the Parliamentary Office of the Scottish Bishops' Conference: Do No Harm.
- BBC Documentary by disability rights campaigner, Liz Carr: Better Off Dead?
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The Anscombe Bioethics Centre is supported by the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, but has also always relied on donations from generous individuals, friends and benefactors.