Definitions of terminal illness in assisted dying legislation

Author: Susan Brown

PDF Published: Thursday 25 Sep 2025 (SB 25-45)

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- UK and Crown Dependencies
  - Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, Liam McArthur MSP
  - Existing definitions of terminal illness in social security legislation
  - Definitions of terminal illness within other existing or proposed assisted dying legislation
    
    Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, Kim Leadbeater MP
    
    Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill, Lord Falconer
    
    Assisted Dying Bill 2023, Dr Allinson MHK
    
    Assisted dying in Jersey
  - Definitions of terminal illness in previous attempts to legislate for assisted dying in Scotland
- International jurisdictions where legislation includes a definition of terminal illness
  - Australia
  - New Zealand
  - US States
Sources

Scottish Parliament. (2024). Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill [as introduced] - SP Bill 46. 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

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill Policy Memorandum. SP Bill 46-PM. (2024). Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/s6-bills/assisted-dying-for-terminally-ill-adults-scotland-bill/introduction/policy-memorandum-accessible.pdf [accessed 1 September 2025]

Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2018/9/contents [accessed 1 September 2025]

Scottish Government. (2023, December 19). Updated Guidance on the Implementation of Benefits Assessment under Special Rules in Scotland (BASRiS) Guidance and form for Terminal Illness, for Disability Benefits devolved to Scotland . Retrieved from https://www.publications.scot.nhs.uk/files/cmo-2023-20.pdf [accessed 1 September 2025]

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HOUSE BILL 16-1054: CONCERNING END-OF-LIFE OPTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A TERMINAL ILLNESS.. (2016). Retrieved from https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2016A/bills/2016a_1054_01.pdf [accessed 1 September 2025]

LAWS OF DELAWARE VOLUME 85 CHAPTER 19 153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY FORMERLY HOUSE BILL NO. 140 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO END OF LIFE OPTIONS. (2025). Retrieved from https://legis.delaware.gov/SessionLaws/Chapter/GetPdfDocument?fileAttachmentId=649151 [accessed 1 September 2025]

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Chapter 59, AN ACT concerning medical aid in dying for the terminally ill, supplementing Titles 45 and 26 of the Revised Statutes, and amending P.L.1991, c.270 and N.J.S.2C:11-6.. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/Statutes/Medical-Aid-in-Dying-for-the-Terminally-Ill-Act.pdf [accessed 1 September 2025]

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