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country profile
Assisted Dying in the United Kingdom 
The United Kingdom is currently at a legislative turning point. While assisted dying remains a criminal offence under the Suicide Act of 1961 (in England and Wales), the political landscape has shifted dramatically in recent years.
Legal Status
Assisted dying remains a criminal offence across all UK jurisdictions, though specific prosecution guidelines exist for compassionate cases. The ban is enforced by the Suicide Act 1961 in England and Wales, and treated as homicide under Scottish common law.
Legislative Reform
Bills to legalize assisted dying are currently advancing through the parliaments of Westminster, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Jersey.
Eligibility
All of the Bills currently being debated across UK jurisdictions place strict eligibility requirements. Each Bill requires that a person to have been normally resident in the jurisdiction for a period of time before making any application for assistance. Currently, in the Westminster bill ( England and Wales), a person must be terminally ill with a prognosis of 6 months or less to live. In the Scottish Bill, no prognosis period is included.
● Legal / Decriminalized ● Pending / Proposed ● Illegal
Summary
Unlike most nations with a single federal law, the UK’s approach to assisted dying is fragmented across its devolved nations and Crown Dependencies.
Northern Ireland: Governed by the Criminal Justice Act (NI) 1966, which mirrors the 1961 Act in England.
England & Wales: The Suicide Act 1961 remains the governing statute. Section 2 makes it a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison to “encourage or assist” the suicide of another person. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has issued guidelines indicating that prosecution is less likely if the suspect acted wholly out of compassion.
Scotland: There is no specific statute banning assisted suicide. However, assisting a death can be prosecuted as culpable homicide or murder.
Visit Friends at the end (federation member)
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My Death, My Decision (federation member)
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England 🏴 & Wales 🏴
Governing Law: Suicide Act 1961
Current Situation In England and Wales, the Suicide Act 1961 still makes assisting a death punishable by up to 14 years in prison, the political will to enforce this has weakened, and legislative change is underway.
- The Bill: The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, introduced by Kim Leadbeater MP, proposes to allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live the right to end their own lives.
- Progress: In a historic vote in June 2025, the Bill passed its Second Reading in the House of Commons, signalling the first time MPs have voted in favor of changing the law. It is currently under detailed scrutiny in the House of Lords.
Outlook If the Bill clears the House of Lords without significant stalling, it is on track to receive Royal Assent by late 2026. However, a strict 18-24 month “implementation period” means services would likely not begin until 2028 or 2029.
My Death, My Decision (federation member)
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Scotland 🏴
Governing Law: Scots Law (Culpable Homicide / Murder)
Current Situation Scotland has always had a distinct legal system from England. There is no specific statute banning assisted suicide; however, assisting someone to die is currently prosecuted as murder or culpable homicide under common law.
- The Bill: The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, championed by Liam McArthur MSP, is currently working its way through Holyrood. It differs in some key areas from the UK Bill, but is tailored to the Scottish healthcare system.
- Progress: The Bill passed its Stage 1 vote (general principles) in the Scottish Parliament in May 2025.. with 70 votes in favour and 56 against. Stage 2, where a committee of MSPs debated amendments to the specific details of the law was completed in later 2025.
Outlook The final “Stage 3” vote is expected to take place in early 2026. If passed, the Scottish Government would then begin setting up the regulatory framework, with an expected start date for services in 2027 or 2028.
Visit Friends at the end (federation member)
Click to view the legislative details.
Northern Ireland
Status: Illegal (No Active Bill) Governing Law: Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 1966
Current Situation Northern Ireland is currently the only part of the British Isles with no active bill to legalize assisted dying. While England, Wales, Scotland, Jersey, and the Isle of Man are all advancing legislation, Northern Ireland remains under a strict prohibition.
- The Law: Under the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 1966, it is a serious crime (punishable by up to 14 years in prison) to aid or abet another person’s suicide.
- Political Stance: The political environment is distinct from Great Britain. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and major church leaders remain strongly opposed to any change in the law. Sinn Féin and the SDLP have historically allowed free votes or expressed openness to debate, but neither has prioritized bringing a bill forward.
- Westminster Bill: The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill currently debating in the UK Parliament does not apply to Northern Ireland, as criminal justice matters are devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Outlook In February 2025, the NI Department of Health confirmed there are “no plans” to introduce assisted dying legislation. Any change would likely require a Private Member’s Bill from an individual MLA, which has not yet appeared.
Members
Our British Member Organisations
We currently have 63 are members of the World Federation, with 2 based in the UK.
latest news
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