My Lords, I will very briefly speak to Amendment 657 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Fox, to which I have added my name, to support the amendments in the name of my noble friend Lady Finlay— Amendments 268, 359, 617—and the amendment in the name of the...

My Lords, I will very briefly speak to Amendment 657 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Fox, to which I have added my name, to support the amendments in the name of my noble friend Lady Finlay— Amendments 268, 359, 617—and the amendment in the name of the...

My Lords, I just want to respond to the noble Baroness, Lady Berridge, on the importance of conscientious objection. The strength of Clause 31 and Schedule 3 is that they are not confined to those who can show that they have a conscientious objection to assisted suicide. Any doctor or...

My Lords, I just want to respond to the noble Baroness, Lady Berridge, on the importance of conscientious objection. The strength of Clause 31 and Schedule 3 is that they are not confined to those who can show that they have a conscientious objection to assisted suicide. Any doctor or...

My Lords, I am grateful for the clarity, but I draw attention to the fact that this is a position that could have been put, and still could be put, in a meeting with the various royal colleges to assure them that the Bill does what the noble and learned...

My Lords, I am grateful for the clarity, but I draw attention to the fact that this is a position that could have been put, and still could be put, in a meeting with the various royal colleges to assure them that the Bill does what the noble and learned...

Of course, some practitioners do not have confidence. We are not going to get to any conclusion on the Bill that will enable Parliament to implement the view of the vast majority of people in this country.

Of course, some practitioners do not have confidence. We are not going to get to any conclusion on the Bill that will enable Parliament to implement the view of the vast majority of people in this country.

My Lords, can we get to the Front Benches?

My Lords, can we get to the Front Benches?

Hear, hear!

Hear, hear!

My Lords, I accept the spirit of the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Butler-Sloss, so I shall be very brief. I support the noble Baroness, Lady Fraser of Craigmaddie, in her amendment on the register. I understand that one of the things that we are trying to do in this...

My Lords, I accept the spirit of the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Butler-Sloss, so I shall be very brief. I support the noble Baroness, Lady Fraser of Craigmaddie, in her amendment on the register. I understand that one of the things that we are trying to do in this...

I will be equivalently concise. It is important to connect Amendment 657, which specifies that assisted dying

“is not to be regarded as medical treatment”,

with our debate on the broader conscience protections that the Bill needs to include. The reason is not just that regarding assisted dying as a treatment is...

I will be equivalently concise. It is important to connect Amendment 657, which specifies that assisted dying

“is not to be regarded as medical treatment”,

with our debate on the broader conscience protections that the Bill needs to include. The reason is not just that regarding assisted dying as a treatment is...

My Lords, I have Amendments 673A and 679 in this group. Amendment 673A would provide that a medical practitioner who had opted into the process could choose to opt out at any time, and Amendment 679 would insert a new clause.

I will start with a number of questions for the...

My Lords, I have Amendments 673A and 679 in this group. Amendment 673A would provide that a medical practitioner who had opted into the process could choose to opt out at any time, and Amendment 679 would insert a new clause.

I will start with a number of questions for the...

My Lords, I will speak to the main theme of this group, but particularly to Amendment 679 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Grey-Thompson, which I believe is essential if we are to safeguard the valuable work of faith-based hospices and care homes, along with other institutions, that...

My Lords, I will speak to the main theme of this group, but particularly to Amendment 679 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Grey-Thompson, which I believe is essential if we are to safeguard the valuable work of faith-based hospices and care homes, along with other institutions, that...

If my noble and learned friend were to introduce into the Bill the provisions that the noble Lord wishes, would he then be in favour of such a Bill?

If my noble and learned friend were to introduce into the Bill the provisions that the noble Lord wishes, would he then be in favour of such a Bill?

I think that the noble Baroness will be under no illusion: I am personally against the Bill, because I do not believe in it. But if there is a Bill, we have to have any protection in it—that is completely different. Therefore, in the context of the suggestion that, because...

I think that the noble Baroness will be under no illusion: I am personally against the Bill, because I do not believe in it. But if there is a Bill, we have to have any protection in it—that is completely different. Therefore, in the context of the suggestion that, because...

My Lords, I rise not least because it is very important for us to take a moment to understand the importance of this debate—in particular, to address the matters raised by the noble Lord, Lord Pannick. I too have sat through all the days in Committee, and noble Lords will...

My Lords, I rise not least because it is very important for us to take a moment to understand the importance of this debate—in particular, to address the matters raised by the noble Lord, Lord Pannick. I too have sat through all the days in Committee, and noble Lords will...

My Lords, I strongly support Amendments 169, 268 and 657. In my discussions with a variety of doctors’ representatives, two issues clearly came out straightaway. They volunteered them— I did not ask for them—and they were about how this must shift to being an opt-in process. As it stands, it...

My Lords, I strongly support Amendments 169, 268 and 657. In my discussions with a variety of doctors’ representatives, two issues clearly came out straightaway. They volunteered them— I did not ask for them—and they were about how this must shift to being an opt-in process. As it stands, it...

My Lords, I want to cover a couple of points and reflect on what the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Scotland, said, which was that, despite the debate, there is a sense that people are agreed that this should be an opt-in rather than an opt-out process. The problem is...

My Lords, I want to cover a couple of points and reflect on what the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Scotland, said, which was that, despite the debate, there is a sense that people are agreed that this should be an opt-in rather than an opt-out process. The problem is...

The noble Baroness, Lady Gerada, made it clear that the Royal College of General Practitioners was not in favour of a register. It may well be in favour of an opt-in process, but not a register.

The noble Baroness, Lady Gerada, made it clear that the Royal College of General Practitioners was not in favour of a register. It may well be in favour of an opt-in process, but not a register.

The noble Baroness said that it was not in favour of a public register, and I did not say that it was, but that is a helpful clarification that the Committee has now been able to hear.

The problem, though, as I said, is with how the Bill is drafted. There...

The noble Baroness said that it was not in favour of a public register, and I did not say that it was, but that is a helpful clarification that the Committee has now been able to hear.

The problem, though, as I said, is with how the Bill is drafted. There...

I am absolutely amazed to hear that. Clause 5(1) says:

“No registered medical practitioner is under any duty to raise the subject of the provision of assistance in accordance with this Act with a person”.

That would mean, as a matter of law, that there is never a duty to raise it....

I am absolutely amazed to hear that. Clause 5(1) says:

“No registered medical practitioner is under any duty to raise the subject of the provision of assistance in accordance with this Act with a person”.

That would mean, as a matter of law, that there is never a duty to raise it....

The problem is that I do not think it is that clear, and it is not just me. If it were that clear, then the royal colleges that think that it should be made clearer would not think that. The problem is—

The problem is that I do not think it is that clear, and it is not just me. If it were that clear, then the royal colleges that think that it should be made clearer would not think that. The problem is—