Palliative care and assisted dying

Author: Kathleen Robson

PDF Published: Thursday 16 Oct 2025 (SB 25-51)

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Overview
Report

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Overview
Report
- Summary
- Introduction
- Palliative care need in Scotland
- Scottish legislation and policy
- Service Provision
- Expenditure
- Palliative care and assisted dying
  - Palliative care as a driver to assisted dying
    
    Assisted dying applicants in receipt of palliative care
    
    Reasons underpinning requests for assisted dying
  - The effect of assisted dying on palliative care
    
    Effect on funding and service provision
    
    Effect on individual care quality
  - Palliative care laws alongside changes to assisted dying laws
Sources

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Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care. (2024, August 16). SPPC Submission to Parliament on the Assisted Dying Bill. Retrieved from https://www.palliativecarescotland.org.uk/news/news/sppc-submissions-to-parliament-on-the-assisted-dying-bill/ [accessed 16 September 2025]

Scottish Government. (2024, October 2). Palliative care strategy - population data and research: overview. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/palliative-care-strategy-population-data-research-additional-paper/

National Records of Scotland. (2025, August 26). Vital Events Reference Tables 2024. Retrieved from https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/publications/vital-events-reference-tables-2024/

Healthcare Improvement Scotland. (2025). Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines: Symptom Management. Retrieved from https://rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/scottish-palliative-care-guidelines/symptom-management/

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Scottish Parliament. (2024, March 27). Assisted Dying for Terminally Adults (Scotland) Bill - As Introduced. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/s6-bills/assisted-dying-for-terminally-ill-adults-scotland-bill/introduction/bill-as-introduced.pdf

Scottish Parliament - Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. (2025, April 30). Stage 1 report: Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. Retrieved from https://bprcdn.parliament.scot/published/HSCS/2025/4/30/e2b81df7-8d06-4c77-a035-789f84593cc8/HSCSS062025R02.pdf

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Victoria State Government: Department of Health. (2024, October). Review of the Operation of Victoria’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017. Retrieved from https://www.health.vic.gov.au/voluntary-assisted-dying/five-year-review

Health New Zealand. (2025, February 28). Assisted Dying Service: Annual Service Report 2024. Retrieved from https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/publications/assisted-dying-service-annual-service-report-2024

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Oregon Health Authority. (2025). Oregon Death with Dignity Act: Data Summary 2024. Retrieved from https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/PROVIDERPARTNERRESOURCES/EVALUATIONRESEARCH/DEATHWITHDIGNITYACT/Documents/year27.pdf

California Department of Public Health. (2025). California End of Life Option Act 2024 Data Report. Retrieved from https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/CDPH%20Document%20Library/CDPH_End_of_Life_Option_Act_Report_2024.pdf

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Michael, N., Jones, D., Kernick, L., & Kissane, D. (2024). Does voluntary assisted dying impact quality palliative care? A retrospective mixed-method study. MJ Supportive & Palliative Care. doi: 10.1136/spcare-2024-004946

House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee. (2024, February 29). Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide. Retrieved from https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5804/cmselect/cmhealth/321/report.html

Scobie, S., Hutchings, R., Davies, M., Kumpunen, S., & Reid, S. (2025, August). Assisted dying in practice: International experiences and implications for health and social care. Retrieved from https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/2025-09/Nuffield%20Trust%20Assisted%20dying%20in%20practice_WEB-update.pdf

House of Commons Public Bill Committee. (2025, February 3). Written evidence, submitted by Professor Katherine Sleeman, King’s College London (TIAB52). Retrieved from https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cmpublic/TerminallyIllAdults/memo/TIAB52.htm#:~:text=Fewer%20than%20half%20of%20people,assisted%20dying%20on%20palliative%20care

National Assembly for France. (2025, April 11). Report on the bill by Ms Annie Vidal relating to palliative and supportive care (1102), no. 1281. Retrieved from https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/17/rapports/cion-soc/l17b1281_rapport-fond

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Last Updated: 11/3 1:04pm

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