Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Debate between Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent and Baroness Hollins

Committee stage
Friday 12th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent) (Lab)]

I am sure that my noble and learned friend will respond to that in the debate, but the noble Baroness has just intervened on an intervention. The Chief Whip made clear reference to that earlier.

[Baroness Hollins (CB)]

My Lords, I welcome the comments from the noble and learned Lord. General practice is very different today from when I practised as a GP earlier in my career; it was certainly not as part of a multidisciplinary team.

I added my name to the very reasonable Amendment 21 tabled by my noble friend Lady Grey-Thompson. The debate has not been about whether assisted dying should be part of a GP’s role; it has, very helpfully, focused on the importance of continuity of care and accurate records.

I congratulate my noble friend Lady Gerada on her first contribution in Committee; she is correct that GPs now work as part of a multidisciplinary team. I think that patients accept that, but they also expect that a doctor is ultimately responsible for their care when they are seriously ill. Perhaps Amendment 21 could meet the noble and learned Lord’s requirements if it were amended to refer to the medical practice rather than to the general practitioner.