**Dr Hilary Jones Backs Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill if Law is Changed**
Dr Hilary Jones, the well-known television GP and a familiar face from ITV’s *Good Morning Britain* and *Lorraine*, has spoken out in favour of assisted dying, stating he would be willing to help terminally ill patients end their lives, should British law permit it. His comments come as Parliament prepares for a crucial debate on the proposed Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would allow assisted dying in England and Wales under strict conditions.
The proposed legislation, which MPs are due to debate in the House of Commons, would make it possible for adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live to apply for assistance in ending their lives. The process would involve a rigorous approval mechanism, requiring sign-off from two doctors as well as an expert panel.
A recent amendment passed by MPs assures that not only doctors, but also pharmacists and social care workers, would be able to exempt themselves from participating in assisted dying, if they objected. This extension of the opt-out clause aims to protect healthcare professionals who have moral or ethical reservations about involvement in such procedures.
Dr Jones explained in an interview that the current legal position causes anxiety among healthcare providers, discouraging optimal palliative care for the dying. “As the law stands, many clinicians are looking over their shoulders, fearful of prosecution if their actions are misunderstood,” he said. Presently, assisting or encouraging a suicide carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison in England and Wales. This legal risk, according to Dr Jones, results in many terminally ill people receiving insufficient support in their final days.
He remarked, “There are outstandingly compassionate people in healthcare, but they worry endlessly about the possibility of being accused of wrongdoing. This fear, unfortunately, means that sometimes patients are not afforded the best palliative care.” Dr Jones expressed his belief that the passing of the Bill would not only relieve this burden for medical professionals, but also give peace of mind to patients facing the end of life.
As discussion heats up in Westminster, some major voices in medicine have sounded a note of caution. Both the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) have raised significant concerns about the Bill’s draft, questioning whether it provides enough safeguards and clarity.
Reflecting on his own 45-year career, including significant experience on cancer wards, Dr Jones reiterated his enduring support for assisted dying. “I have long believed it is the humane and compassionate path for those whose wishes are clear, whose minds are sound and who are suffering,” he explained, emphasising the importance of respecting the final choices of the terminally ill.
Pressed on whether he personally would help a patient end their life under a revised law, Dr Jones made his position unequivocal. “Absolutely, if I know the patient, know their suffering and wishes, and there is nothing more I can do to alleviate their pain—then yes, I would be there to support them in their decision,” he said.
Despite the emotive debates surrounding assisted dying, some critics urge Parliament to instead focus on improving end-of-life care. Dr Jones replied from personal experience, recalling that his own mother, a nurse, died with significant suffering despite receiving top-level palliative support. He expressed respect for those who hold opposing views, particularly on religious or cultural grounds, but maintained that choice at the end of life should be paramount. “This is not imposing anything on anyone—it’s about giving individuals the right to decide for themselves, should they face a terminal illness and the prospect of prolonged suffering.”
If the Bill is ultimately defeated, Dr Jones warned that medicine in the UK could be “set back to the Dark Ages,” arguing that this would be a setback for both patient autonomy and medical progress.
On the other hand, the group Our Duty Of Care, comprised of healthcare professionals opposing a change in the law, argued for investment in palliative and psychological support rather than assisted dying. Dr Gillian Wright, a spokesperson for the group, pointed out existing challenges in the NHS and warned that true choice is compromised if patients do not have access to comprehensive end-of-life care.
As the debate intensifies, the issue remains deeply divisive, touching on ethics, compassion, and the rights of patients at the end of life. The outcome of the forthcoming vote will be watched closely throughout the UK, with potential ramifications for the future of both healthcare policy and personal choice in matters of life and death.