Frequently asked Qs

• What is the Assisted Dying Bill?

  The Assisted Dying Bill is a proposed new law which is currently going through Parliament.

   

  It would allow terminally ill adults to ask for help from a doctor to end their life. 

   

  The Bill says terminal illness is when:

   

  • the person has an inevitably progressive illness or disease which cannot be reversed by treatment, and
  • the person's death because of that illness or disease can reasonably be expected within 6 months.

   You will not be classed as being terminally ill:

  • just because you have a disability or a mental health issue, or 
  • if your illness is caused by you voluntarily stopping eating or drinking. ‘Voluntarily stopping eating or drinking’ is the wording used in the Bill.

   Doctors must think that you are fully sure about your choice.

   

  The Bill intends to allow adults who are terminally ill to request, and be provided with, assistance to end their own life.  This is subject to safeguards and protections.  The Bill is trying to help terminally ill people control the time of their death.

   

  When we published this information, the Assisted Dying Bill had not yet become law in England and Wales. It must be fully approved by Parliament first.

   

  You can get a copy of the Bill, and track its progress through Parliament, on the UK Parliament website.

   

  Issues around the Bill can be complicated. People and organisations have different views.

• What are the key points of the Assisted Dying Bill?

  To ask for help to end your life you must:

  • Be 18 or over
  • Be terminally ill and expected to die from the illness within 6 months
  • Be mentally capable of making the decision and not be pressured by anyone
  • Have lived in England or Wales for at least 12 months and be registered with a GP

  Safeguards include:

  • A number of assessments
  • A cooling-off period of at least 14 days after your initial request
  • A panel must approve each request.  It will consist of senior legal figure, a consultant psychiatrist, and a social worker. Their role is to make sure your decision is voluntary, informed, and safe.

  You can get the support of an independent advocate if you have mental health issues, autism, or a learning disability. Or if you would have substantial difficulty in understanding the processes or communicating.  The role of the independent advocate is to help you understand options. 

  The person must take the final step to end their life themselves by taking a prescribed, life-ending medication. This means that they must give the medication to themselves. No one else can do it for them. 

  Strict rules have been proposed to stop abuse. These include criminal penalties for lying, pressuring someone, or faking documents.

  Doctors and nurses can choose not to take part.

  It is proposed that a Voluntary Assisted Dying Commissioner will oversee the process, to make sure rules are followed.

  The law will be regularly reviewed to check how it is working.

  On our webpage you can read more advice and information about Mental capacity and mental illness - The Mental Capacity Act 2005.

• What about people who want to die by suicide?

  If you are not terminally ill, you cannot use the Bill to die by suicide. 

  The Royal College of Psychiatrists are concerned that some people with terminal illness might want to die because they feel depressed or hopeless. The terminal illness cannot be treated. But there are treatments available for depression, such as medication or talking therapies, which can often be helpful. With proper support, people might change their minds and want to keep living.

  The Bill says a Codes of Practice guidance document must be issued. It must give clear guidance on the effects of mental health conditions on people's decision making.

  Below you can read more advice and information about:

  • Suicidal thoughts - How to cope
  • Suicidal thoughts - How to support someone

• Can people with eating disorders be classed as terminally ill under the Bill?

  The Bill says you will not be classed as being terminally ill if your illness is caused by you voluntarily stopping eating or drinking. ‘Voluntarily stopping eating or drinking’ is the wording used in the Bill. 

  On our webpage you can read more advice and information about Eating disorders.

• Are there other concerns about the Bill?

  Other concerns about the Bill include: 

  • It does not give psychiatrists enough time or power to fully check if someone’s mental health is affecting their choice.
  • People with learning disabilities might not fully understand death or be pressured into a decision.
  • There are currently not enough psychiatrists in the UK to properly assess everyone under the Bill.
  • People living with an on-going mental illness, who develop a terminal illness, may worry that they will be denied the right to die. That is because it might be assumed they lack capacity, or their decision is due to feeling depressed. 

• How can I get support if issues around the bill have affected me?

  Charities like Marie Curie, Sue Ryder, and Macmillan offer practical, emotional, and financial support for people who are terminally ill and their caregivers.

  If you need urgent mental health support see our Get help now link for advice and information.

  Talking about how you feel can help. There are helplines staffed by skilled listeners, who will listen without judging you. These are called ‘emotional support helplines.’ You can find details of emotional support helplines here 

  News anxiety is when you feel anxious or stressed from seeing too much upsetting news on TV, online, or social media. You can click here to find information on how to cope with news anxiety.

  You can read more advice and information about support options by clicking the links below:

  Self-harm
  Suicidal thoughts - How to cope
  Suicidal thoughts - How to support someone
  Worried about your mental health? How to get treatment and support
  Worried about someone's mental health?
  Getting help for someone in a mental health crisis
  Stress - How to cope
  Supporting someone with a mental illness

• Is this information accessible?

  • There is an accessibility function on this webpage called Recite.
  • On the desktop site, click on the icon in the top right-hand corner next to ‘Donate.’
  • On the mobile site, scroll right and click on the ‘Turn on accessibility’ icon.

  The Recite function allows you to:

  • translate the text into many different languages,
  • hear the text read aloud, in over 100 languages,
  • change the type and size of font, and
  • change the line height and character spacing,
    change the background colour of the text.

  You can watch a short video about Recite here.