New user-led content on assisted dying
At Compassion in Dying we work to put people in control of decisions about the end of their life. More and more, our services also help people to advocate for themselves or loved ones, to ensure that their wishes are known and respected.
Our research shows a gap in information
As assisted dying continues to be debated in parliaments across the UK and Crown Dependencies, we asked the people we support what information they want to know about assisted dying, and if they are able to find it.
Of the 2,331 responses, the majority had questions which they were not able to find answers to online, or did not know where to look. Today Compassion in Dying is publishing new information on assisted dying to answer some of those questions.
What people want to know about assisted dying
Our research showed that people need clarity on what an assisted death is, and if it is currently legal in the UK. A good reminder to all of us supporting people with planning for the end of life not to make assumptions about what they do know or don’t know.
People told us they wanted to know about the eligibility criteria and safeguards proposed, and the timeframe for potential law change. Interestingly there wasn’t a strong desire to know about each specific bill in terms of location, instead people wanted more of a general sense of what an assisted dying law in the UK might look like.
There are of course questions we couldn’t answer. Because assisted dying is not currently legal anywhere in the UK, and if it is legalised, some of the finer details of the law will not be decided until a working delivery model is introduced by the Government. But, we have answered the questions we can, and we have been honest about the questions we can’t.
People are not aware of the legal options to plan ahead
The survey highlighted several widely held misconceptions. These included the belief that someone will be able to have an assisted death if they lack capacity (for example because they have dementia), that someone will be able to request an assisted death in advance using an advance decision form, and that assisted dying will be available to someone without a terminal illness.
And so our information on assisted dying also highlights the tight eligibility criteria for having an assisted death, and outlines the importance of planning ahead in other ways if people want to do so.
Let’s make conversations about assisted dying safe, normal and free of judgement
It is important that people feel able to talk about assisted dying in a straightforward way if they want to, as with any end of life topic.
We hope this content will help foster open conversations because everyone has the right to understand the options available to them now, and potentially in the future, so they can make informed decisions.
If you would like to talk about this research or our information on assisted dying, I’d love to hear from you – jennifer.noel@compassionindying.org.uk