Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Debate between Baroness Blackstone and Baroness Berger

Friday 24th April 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blackstone (Lab)]

My Lords, I am not going to give way because time is short.

[Baroness Berger (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Blackstone (Lab)]

I am sorry, but I am not giving way. I do not think it is appropriate for me to do so, and many others have not. I am happy to discuss it with the noble Baroness afterwards.

The largest survey of medical opinion in the UK by the BMA found doctors more likely to support than to oppose assisted dying. Organisations that represent them have worked closely with my noble and learned friend Lord Falconer and Kim Leadbeater MP, the sponsor of the Bill in the House of Commons. I had intended to turn to several examples of blatant misrepresentation that have taken place in Committee, but in the interests of giving other people an opportunity to express their views, I will leave them out. I am afraid to say that it was a failure—

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Blackstone (Lab)]

My Lords, I will answer that briefly. I did not, in what I have just said, in any way imply that the medical colleges did not have some suggestions for improvements to the Bill. Many people have suggestions for improvements to the Bill, including my noble and learned friend Lord Falconer of Thoroton. What I am saying is that it is misleading to suggest that they are opposed to the Bill in principle as a profession—they are not; they have been neutral.

[Baroness Berger (Lab)]

Before my noble friend sits down, I say that I have been accused of dishonesty in my representations. I will just repeat what I said. I was very clear that, while the overwhelming majority—bar one, I think—of the royal medical colleges take a neutral position on the principle of assisted dying, there is not a single medical royal college in this country that will attest to the safety of the Bill. I reiterate that that should concern us all.