Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Baroness Wheatcroft Excerpts

Friday 21st November 2025 Lords Chamber

I am sure that it is possible to draw up measures in this legislation and more broadly to ensure that we absolutely minimise the risk of those who are already victims becoming victims of an even greater crime. I hope that the sponsor of the Bill can reassure us that those measures will be in place.

[Baroness Wheatcroft (CB)]

The point that the noble Lord has just made—that people are committing suicide because they are in abusive relationships—is absolutely dreadful. But would he accept that there is more likelihood of their death being prevented under this Bill?

[Lord Gove (Con)]

I profoundly disagree with the noble Baroness on that, but I am grateful to her for making that point, and I am more grateful still to the noble Baroness, Lady Grey-Thompson, for raising this issue. It is precisely the nature of coercive and controlling behaviour within domestic settings, as part of domestic violence and abuse, that needs to be addressed in this legislation. I have an open mind as to how it might be, but it must be.