Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Twenty-fifth sitting)

Debate between Simon Opher and Stephen Kinnock

Committee stage
Tuesday 18th March 2025 Public Bill Committees

[Stephen Kinnock]

The right hon. Member sets out clearly the difference between self-administration—the concept at the heart of the Bill—and the performance of the act either jointly or by the doctor. The latter is not permitted under the terms of the Bill; the former is. That is where we are.

[Dr Simon Opher (Stroud) (Lab)]

The lack of an ability to assist in the final process would put medical professionals in a very difficult position. Would carrying the medicine to the room where the patient is count as assistance? I think we have to have assistance in the Bill, but I also feel that, as the Minister has outlined clearly, someone can help a person to self-administer but cannot administer. That is quite clear to me.

[Stephen Kinnock]

I thank my hon. Friend, who speaks with considerable clinical expertise. It is about exactly that difference between self-administration and administration. If we cleave to those two principles, that is the basis on which we will achieve the stated aim of my hon. Friend the Member for Spen Valley.

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Nineteeth sitting)

Debate between Simon Opher and Stephen Kinnock

Committee stage
Wednesday 5th March 2025 Public Bill Committees

[Dr Opher]

I am grateful that you have not intervened as well, Mrs Harris. You did say that I am allowed to call you “you”.

I will finish on this serious point. Amendment 6 has much power, and we would all agree that if the first or second doctor has doubts, they must—not may—refer to a psychiatrist. Expecting every patient who requests assisted death to have a psychological or psychiatric assessment is simply not necessary, and it would not improve the safety of this Bill.

[Stephen Kinnock]

rose—