The Association for Palliative Medicine (APM) has been actively engaged in debate around doctor’s involvement in actively and intentionally ending life (variously called assisted dying, assisted suicide, and euthanasia) for many years. Legislative processes across Great Britain and Ireland in recent years have heightened APM involvement in these debates, and the resources below largely focus on the background to the current APM position and APM briefings and information which members may find helpful.
The Association for Palliative Medicine (APM) resources relating to doctor’s involvement in actively and intentionally ending life (variously called ‘Assisted Suicide’, ‘Assisted Dying’, ‘Aid in Dying’, and Euthanasia’)
This subject is core to any clinician practicing in Supportive, Palliative and End of Life Care and is relevant to all doctors practicing at the bedside, not just those who specialise in Palliative Medicine. Those interested members of the public and other professions may also find resources and information here to aid their discussions and thinking.
The APM’s focus is on amplifying those messages that we are uniquely positioned to make, advocating for those whom we care for at the most vulnerable stage of their lives, and for you, as our members working across diverse organisations.
The APM welcomes the position statements and resources of other professional bodies such as the Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Psychiatrists and the BMA.
Scroll down to view our resources.
Scroll down to view our resources
The resources available include:
- Surveys of Palliative Medicine clinicians’ views about Assisted Dying (2015)
- APM responses to proposed changes in legislation within Great Britain and Ireland
- Additional Resources
- The APM position statement on a doctor’s involvement in actions intended to end life (Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia)
Surveys of Palliative Medicine Clinicians’ views about Assisted Dying (2015)
Royal College of Physicians – stratified for palliative medicine – 84.3% oppose a change in the law, and 84.4% were not prepared to actively participate in physician assisted suicide.
View survey here
British Medical Associations – stratified for palliative medicine – 84% would not be willing to actively participate in the process of administrating life-ending drugs
View survey here
Learn more about what motivates us to advocate for our members
APM responses to proposed changes in legislation within the UK and Ireland
The APM has submitted responses to the following
Response to Baroness Meacher’s Assisted Dying Bill, UK Parliament
Response to McArthur Bill, Scottish Parliament (via their structured, online submission)
Submission to Assisted dying in Jersey Consultation (via their structured online submission)
Evidence submission to Health Select Committee Enquiry into Assisted Dying, UK Parliament
Response to the first vote in Holyrood (13 May 2025) in regards to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Scotland.
Response to the third reading in Westminster (16 May 2025) in regards to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
Response to the third reading and vote in Westminster (20 June 2025) in regards to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
APM evidence to Third reading of TIA Bill, House of Commons Select Committee 28 January 2025
APM evidence to Select Committee, House of Lords 29 October 2025
Other Resources
Draft MP Template Letter
APM Assisted Dying Myth Buster
What is Palliative Care? A document for Peers
Letter to Peers - updated January 26
Letter to Peers re 2nd Reading
In response to the developments of the Bill, the APM have populated a list of 21 questions aimed at MPs. These questions can be referred to if you would like to prepare a letter to your local MP.
To view the question bank, please click below.
21 Questions to MPs
In response to the next stage of the Bill, the APM have populated a list of 20 questions aimed at Peers in the House of Lords. These questions can be referred to within letters to a Peer of your choosing.
To access the House of Lords Peers details please visit here.
To view the questions, please click below.
20 Questions to Peers
Letter for MSPs - Updated January 2026
Draft letter for MSPs for Scottish members
Assisted Dying Mythbuster - Updated January 2026
APM Statement - Serious Clinical Concern regarding the Assisted Dying for Terminally ill Adults (Scotland) Bill 2024
In response to the developments of the Bill, the APM have populated a list of questions aimed at MSPs. These questions can be referred to if you wish to prepare a letter for your local MSP.
To view the question bank, please click below.
21 Questions for MSPs - Updated January 2026
22 Questions to MSPs
Letter to Stephen Kinnock - re Palliative Care Modern Service Framework recommendations. March 2026
Palliative Care Modern Service Framework recommendations - March 2026
Palliative End of Life Care Commission Report Volume 1
Palliative End of Life Care Commission Report Volume 2
APM Submission in response to the Royal Commission
APM Submission to the Health Select Committee Report
Expert Panel: Evaluation of Palliative care in England
RCP Statement on Palliative and End of Life Care
View the AD Media resource repository here
APM position document on Conscientious Objection which must be upheld for Individuals and Organisations in any Assisted Dying framework
APM Conscientious Objection
APM’s response to the vote in Scottish Parliament regarding the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill
Please view the APM’s response to the vote on Tuesday 17th March 2026.
APM Response 18.03.26
Public Bill Scrutiny Committee – Tuesday 28 January 2025
The APM were invited to attend the first round of the Public Bill Scrutiny committee on Tuesday 28 January. In preparation, the APM were to provide written evidence in response to the bill.
To view the written evidence that was submitted, please log into the APM website. Once logged in you will see a sub page titled, ‘Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life Bill) 2024-2025 appear under the Communications tab.
Please note this information is only available to view for APM members once logged in.
If you are not a current member but would like to join the APM, please find out more about our membership offerings by clicking here.
Member Webinar – Tuesday 21 January 2025
On Tuesday 21 January 2025, the APM held a member webinar focussing on the Assisted Dying Bill. The webinar not only informed of the key points of the bill, but also allowed the APM to share what they have been doing in response and more importantly, provided an open forum for members to share their questions and concerns.
If you are an APM member and would like to review the webinar recording along with the themes that were discussed, please log into the APM website and you will find the details under the Events tab along the navigation bar.
Please note this information is only available to view for APM members once logged in.
If you are not a current member but would like to watch the webinar, please find out more about our membership offerings by clicking here.
‘The Reality of Assisted Dying: Understanding the issues’.
Authors: Julian C Hughes and Ilora G. Finlay
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