The Assisted Dying Bill, debated in the House of Commons in September 2015, was proposed to allow doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to terminally ill patients to enable them to end their own life.

Through the palliative and end of life care services we provide, Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care seeks to neither hasten nor postpone death. Providing treatment to alleviate symptoms, or withdrawing treatment where it is in the best interests of the patient, are consistent with our aims. We do not believe assisted dying has – or should have – a place within the range of care we provide.

Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care therefore opposes the proposed change in the law as outlined in the Assisted Dying Bill 2014-5.

The Chairman and Board of Trustees, Chief Executive, Senior Management Team, and senior clinicians of Phyllis Tuckwell have issued this statement which sets out our position more fully.