Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
Debate between Lord Moore of Etchingham and Baroness WhitakerFriday 6th February 2026
(1 week, 2 days ago)
Lords ChamberRead Full debate Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill 2024-26 View all Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill 2024-26 Debates Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts Amendment Paper: HL Bill 112-IX(a) Amendments for Committee (Supplementary to the Ninth Marshalled List) - (6 Feb 2026)
Baroness Whitaker (Lab)
Does the noble Baroness, Lady Gerada, agree that the cardinal difference between suicide and voluntary assisted death is that voluntary assisted death applies to people who are already dying? There is no way that they are going to survive, and that seems to make the whole difference. What we seek in this Bill—and I very much support the safeguard proposed by my noble and learned friend in Amendment 87—is that the process of dying should be free from terror, pain and humiliation. It will not stop the person dying. Therefore, it is not suicide.
Lord Moore of Etchingham (Non-Afl)
Perhaps I may follow up on the very sad story from the noble Baroness, Lady Hayman, of her mother and how she died. This would not be considered to be suicide under the law, as I understand it. As has been discussed quite a lot during this Bill, refusing treatment is not suicide.