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Assisted dying legislation: challenges and considerations for community nurses

02 January 2025
Volume 30 · Issue 1

Abstract

The article focuses on assisted dying, its legislation process and why it might be a political priority for UK lawmakers at this time. The author also raises questions about what the implications of this bill for nurses, particularly community nurses. The article mentions places outside the UK where assisted dying is already a feature of healthcare. ‘Bill’ or ‘bills’ should be taken to mean the draft legislation at the time of writing this article; these are subject to revision or even rejection in each jurisdiction either in the short or long term. It is important for nurses to think about the issue in general terms now, as it returns to the political agenda every few years. Nurses need to be able to discuss it professionally as professional standards, training and regulation will change. The questions presented give rise to polarised and strongly held views. It is important to examine any bill from a theoretical standpoint, to provide valid reasons for the position that professional nurses take, for or against these concepts in principle. There are questions of conscience and religious faith, which are challenging, but it is vital to look at the issue in an unemotional manner.

The debate surrounding assisted dying has resurfaced in the UK, with Members of Parliament (MPs) recently voting on the issue following an emotional and deeply divisive debate. This article explores the current legislative process and why assisted dying is becoming a political priority and the implications for community nurses, who are directly involved in palliative care.

Proposals for new legislation that could change the law about the ending of a patient's life have been under discussion across the UK. In Jersey, the States Assembly approved assisted dying in principle in November 2021, and a draft law is to be debated by the end of 2025 (Jersey Assembly, 2024). In the Isle of Man, there has been a vote to progress an Assisted Dying Bill, which could take effect from 2027 (Sanders and Boyden, 2024). These proposals are in line with laws being considered in Scotland in 2024. In October 2024, a House of Commons Member of Parliament at Westminster, Kim Leadbetter (MP), announced her intention to bring forward an Assisted Dying Bill, and another draft bill was already going through the House of Lords, led by Lord Falconer. On 29 November, 330 MPs voted in favour of moving the Bill to the next stage of the legislative process, while 275 voted against it. The Welsh Senedd had voted against such legislation at the time of writing in November 2024 (BBC, 2024).

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