Assisted suicide

Laws to legalise assisted suicide were defeated in Scotland and Westminster during 2015 but fresh attempts to remove end-of -life protections from the vulnerable reoccur regularly.

In November 2024, MPs voted in support of the principle of Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide Bill.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill intends to allow those in England and Wales deemed to be terminally ill and with less than six months to live to receive help to kill themselves. MPs have now voted by 330 to 275 in favour of legalisation.

The backbench MP’s Private Member’s Bill was examined at Committee Stage, but few amendments to strengthen safeguards were accepted, while other safeguards were stripped away. Read about some of the key moments from the Committee Stage scrutiny. It is set to be debated and voted on for the final time by MPs at Third Reading at the end of April.

Watch highlights of the Second Reading debate as numerous MPs spoke out against the Bill in the House of Commons.

In March 2025, the Isle of Man’s Parliament has passed a Bill to legalise assisted suicide. The Private Member’s Bill proposed by Ramsey MHK Alex Allinson will allow terminally ill residents to be given lethal drugs to end their own lives. After receiving Royal Assent, the Bill could come into effect as early as 2027.

Currently in Scotland, MSPs are considering Liam McArthur’s assisted suicide Bill. The proposal has sparked fierce opposition from politicians, medical experts, commentators and religious groups.

In October 2021, Dr Joel Zivot, Associate Professor of Anaesthesiology and Surgery at the Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia spoke to the Institute debunking the claim that assisted suicide is a peaceful death. His evidence is based on his own review of autopsy reports from executions in the United States.

Politicians in Jersey have voted to advance plans to legalise assisted suicide on the island.

2015

In May, 2015  MSPs voted comprehensively against the Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill by 82 votes to 36. The Bill sought to allow people as young as 16 to get help to kill themselves.

Those voting against the Bill included First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the Deputy Leader of Scottish Labour Kezia Dugdale and Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson.

Then in September 2015 at Westminster, MPs voted 330 to 118 against Rob Marris’ Private Members’ Bill.

The result came following pressure from disabled rights groups, the medical profession, a number of charities and religious leaders.

Serious concerns had been raised that legalising assisted suicide would pressurise the sick, elderly and vulnerable into ending their lives for fear of being a burden. Many pointed to the incremental extension of the practice in Europe, and the absence of genuine safeguards.