Overview

• The proposed amendment ensures pharmacists and ancillary staff, in addition to doctors, can refuse involvement in assisted dying without providing a reason.
• Employment law will be updated to protect employees from dismissal or disciplinary action for opting out of participation.
• The legislation allows terminally ill adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live to apply for assisted dying, pending approval by two doctors and an expert panel.
• Government impact assessments estimate up to 787 assisted deaths in the first year and up to 4,559 annually by the tenth year, with significant projected NHS savings.
• The bill has undergone substantial revisions, including replacing High Court oversight with expert panels and extending the implementation period to four years.