NHS staff promised freedom to opt out of assisted suicide

NHS staff who do not wish to participate in assisted suicide will be given explicit legal protection under a new amendment to the Assisted Dying Bill, proposed by MP Kim Leadbeater and supported by government ministers.

The amendment will extend existing conscience protections beyond doctors and nurses to include all NHS staff who may be involved in the process, such as pharmacists and ancillary staff. It will ensure that no person is under any duty to assist in providing assisted suicide and will allow staff to opt out without giving a reason.

The proposed change will also amend the Employment Rights Act to prohibit dismissal, discrimination, or disciplinary action against any employee who chooses not to participate. “Nobody will be at risk of any detriment to their careers if, for any reason at all, they choose not to take part,” said Leadbeater, the Bill’s sponsor.

The Private Member’s Bill is scheduled for its next stage in the House of Commons on Friday 16 May. The new amendment comes as part of a wider effort to address concerns from medical professionals and members of the public regarding the implications of legalising assisted dying, particularly within NHS settings.

Leadbeater said she hoped the change would reassure staff who object on ethical, moral, or religious grounds, stating: “Assisted dying is not for everyone and nor should it be. But for those who do make that choice, the bill… contains even more protections and is more effective and workable than it was before.”

An official impact assessment released last week estimated that up to 4,000 people could access the service annually within 10 years, making up around 0.7% of deaths in England. However, Leadbeater noted that the central estimate is closer to 2,000 cases per year, with significantly fewer in the initial years.

The reform has prompted debate over its potential cost, with high-end projections reaching £10 million a year within a decade. Supporters of the bill argue that these estimates assume far greater participation than is likely.

Leadbeater described the amendment as the fulfilment of a promise made during the Bill’s Committee Stage to strengthen opt-out protections. She added: “The overall impact of this long-overdue reform will be to make end-of-life care in England and Wales more compassionate and significantly safer.”

However, legal protections may not be enough to prevent informal pressure, workplace tension or subtle forms of coercion for staff who object on conscience grounds.