Yes, absolutely. That is what these debates are all about: trying to find an approach that makes assisted dying tight and safe, safeguarding all sorts of vulnerable groups, but also navigable. I know that is what the sponsors of the Bill are trying to do and what the noble Lords...

Yes, absolutely. That is what these debates are all about: trying to find an approach that makes assisted dying tight and safe, safeguarding all sorts of vulnerable groups, but also navigable. I know that is what the sponsors of the Bill are trying to do and what the noble Lords...

My Lords, of the 43 amendments in this group, 35 are in the names of the noble Lords, Lord Pannick and Lord Birt. They propose a framework for a completely new process outside that already created by this defective Bill, requiring a service of both advice and assistance. This includes...

My Lords, of the 43 amendments in this group, 35 are in the names of the noble Lords, Lord Pannick and Lord Birt. They propose a framework for a completely new process outside that already created by this defective Bill, requiring a service of both advice and assistance. This includes...

The doctor has to take reasonable care at that point. They cannot do anything to kill the patient, so they have to provide reasonable treatment to save the patient’s life at that point.

The doctor has to take reasonable care at that point. They cannot do anything to kill the patient, so they have to provide reasonable treatment to save the patient’s life at that point.

I seek a little more clarification. The noble and learned Lord just said that the doctor should act in a way to save the patient’s life. In that case, if the patient takes their lethal drugs and does not die, the doctor then stands back, lets them wake up, lets...

I seek a little more clarification. The noble and learned Lord just said that the doctor should act in a way to save the patient’s life. In that case, if the patient takes their lethal drugs and does not die, the doctor then stands back, lets them wake up, lets...

I expect that it would not, but I cannot give a definitive view in relation to that. The reason I responded to the noble Lord, Lord Goodman, in the way that I did is because I have already committed myself, in the light of the Delegated Powers Committee’s report, to...

I expect that it would not, but I cannot give a definitive view in relation to that. The reason I responded to the noble Lord, Lord Goodman, in the way that I did is because I have already committed myself, in the light of the Delegated Powers Committee’s report, to...

I am very grateful. I note that the noble and learned Lord says he suspects that it would not. It might be of assistance, certainly to me if to no one else, if he, and indeed the Minister, could let me know, with greater clarity, whether or not my concerns...

I am very grateful. I note that the noble and learned Lord says he suspects that it would not. It might be of assistance, certainly to me if to no one else, if he, and indeed the Minister, could let me know, with greater clarity, whether or not my concerns...

I will certainly try to provide that co-operation.

I will certainly try to provide that co-operation.

My Lords, I will try not to keep us too long from our lunch. This has been a lively and helpful debate, and I think it has exposed a fair number of critical issues that are yet to be resolved.

My past has caught up with me in this debate. How...

My Lords, I will try not to keep us too long from our lunch. This has been a lively and helpful debate, and I think it has exposed a fair number of critical issues that are yet to be resolved.

My past has caught up with me in this debate. How...

My apologies for intervening, but my noble friend mentioned the number of people who access palliative care. The state of New South Wales promised £743 million in extra funding for palliative care over a five-year period, but, when the law was passed, it cut that funding by £150 million and...

My apologies for intervening, but my noble friend mentioned the number of people who access palliative care. The state of New South Wales promised £743 million in extra funding for palliative care over a five-year period, but, when the law was passed, it cut that funding by £150 million and...

The one issue that unites the whole Committee is that we have to have an effective service of palliative care in this country. The data in Australia, which varies from state to state, tells us that somewhere between 70% and 90% of people who come forward already have palliative care.

The...

The one issue that unites the whole Committee is that we have to have an effective service of palliative care in this country. The data in Australia, which varies from state to state, tells us that somewhere between 70% and 90% of people who come forward already have palliative care.

The...

To clarify, I am sure the noble Lord knows people who have tried to get a hip replacement or a wide range of other medical treatments. It is the most complex process that you could ever go through. Many people are vulnerable and could do with a navigator. Does he...

To clarify, I am sure the noble Lord knows people who have tried to get a hip replacement or a wide range of other medical treatments. It is the most complex process that you could ever go through. Many people are vulnerable and could do with a navigator. Does he...

Believe it or not, I have had cause, at various times in my life, to navigate the NHS, as probably everybody in this Committee has, and of course it is very difficult. However, when you go into A&E, you effectively do have a navigator. I do not think this is...

Believe it or not, I have had cause, at various times in my life, to navigate the NHS, as probably everybody in this Committee has, and of course it is very difficult. However, when you go into A&E, you effectively do have a navigator. I do not think this is...

I have been to A&E many times, particularly with my son, and I have never had a navigator. How does one have a navigator in A&E?

I have been to A&E many times, particularly with my son, and I have never had a navigator. How does one have a navigator in A&E?

I am sorry; perhaps the noble Baroness can talk to me later, as I could not take in what she said.

I am, frankly, open-minded about the NHS question and accept the strength of what the noble Lord, Lord Stevens, says. It may well be that this is an organisation that...

I am sorry; perhaps the noble Baroness can talk to me later, as I could not take in what she said.

I am, frankly, open-minded about the NHS question and accept the strength of what the noble Lord, Lord Stevens, says. It may well be that this is an organisation that...

I am grateful to the noble Lord for taking my question at this stage of the debate. I listened very carefully to him when he was setting out his proposals and I welcome the fact that he said that the navigator can discuss palliative care and such

issues with the...

I am grateful to the noble Lord for taking my question at this stage of the debate. I listened very carefully to him when he was setting out his proposals and I welcome the fact that he said that the navigator can discuss palliative care and such

issues with the...

I do not think it for us, in framing in principle amendments, to deal with that level of issue, but the noble Lord is right—that is exactly what the body should do. We are talking about highly distressed people, and it should facilitate different kinds of response and reaction to...

I do not think it for us, in framing in principle amendments, to deal with that level of issue, but the noble Lord is right—that is exactly what the body should do. We are talking about highly distressed people, and it should facilitate different kinds of response and reaction to...

If I heard the noble Lord correctly, he said that anyone going to A&E gets a navigator. He was challenged by the noble Baroness, Lady O’Loan, but he did not hear her question. She said that she never experienced that in her life and neither have I. If any noble...

If I heard the noble Lord correctly, he said that anyone going to A&E gets a navigator. He was challenged by the noble Baroness, Lady O’Loan, but he did not hear her question. She said that she never experienced that in her life and neither have I. If any noble...

Plainly, the NHS is a very large organisation and it offers a variety of different kinds of experience. I hope none of us uses A&E very often but, like everybody else, I have used it and, in my experience, I have found it very efficient indeed at handling everything.

As I...

Plainly, the NHS is a very large organisation and it offers a variety of different kinds of experience. I hope none of us uses A&E very often but, like everybody else, I have used it and, in my experience, I have found it very efficient indeed at handling everything.

As I...

Moved by

Lord Blencathra

39A: Clause 1, page 1, line 14, at end insert—

“(1A) Assistance may be provided only under this Act where the person has demonstrably understood—

(a) their diagnosis,

(b) their prognosis,

(c) their treatment options,

(d) any inherent uncertainties in the assisted dying process, and

(e) any known risks and likely complications of the...

Moved by

Lord Blencathra

39A: Clause 1, page 1, line 14, at end insert—

“(1A) Assistance may be provided only under this Act where the person has demonstrably understood—

(a) their diagnosis,

(b) their prognosis,

(c) their treatment options,

(d) any inherent uncertainties in the assisted dying process, and

(e) any known risks and likely complications of the...

My Lords, I will move my Amendment 39A and speak to my Amendments 238B and 553G. The purpose of Amendment 39A is to require that the patient’s understanding is demonstrable, not assumed.

Before I continue, I wish to thank the Chief Whip for his very wise decision to have a 40-minute...

My Lords, I will move my Amendment 39A and speak to my Amendments 238B and 553G. The purpose of Amendment 39A is to require that the patient’s understanding is demonstrable, not assumed.

Before I continue, I wish to thank the Chief Whip for his very wise decision to have a 40-minute...