Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Debate between Lord Shamash and Lord Winston

Committee stage
Friday 6th February 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Shamash (Lab)]

Thank you. I apologise to the Front Bench about that.

The problem was, in the later part of his life, his lungs began to give way. I remember him saying to me, in the last two or three months of his life, “I just wish somebody could help me so that I could end my life”. Watching a member of your close family die from a horrendous disease is something I hope the House will take into account. I am very concerned about Amendment 105 because I think is very tough indeed, and I sincerely hope that the House will reject it.

[Lord Winston (Lab)]

Would the noble Lord agree that the word is “suffocated”, rather than “die”?

[Lord Shamash (Lab)]

I apologise. Yes, the word is “suffocated”—he was suffocating as his lungs began to fade.