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The delicate and complex process of putting together the assisted dying legislation is underway with the Bill Committee of MPs taking evidence from experts.

One early stand out moment came from the BMA’s head of ethics as he appealed to parliamentarians not to ‘gag doctors,’ but allow them to raise the possibility of an assisted death with patients.

Dr Andrew Green argued that medical professionals would be able to strike the right balance by providing necessary and helpful information but stopping short of putting pressure on the terminally ill to end their lives prematurely.

These two issues – how to encourage discussion but prevent coercion and the role of doctors – will be central to this conversation as the committee continues its work.

What is the assisted dying bill – and what could it mean?

At the end of last year, MPs voted in in favour of changing the law to back assisted dying after a lengthy and impassioned debate.

The proposed law would make it legal for over-18s who are terminally ill to be given medical assistance to end their own life in England and Wales.

The bill – called the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – sets out detailed requirements to be eligible.

The Labour MP proposing it, Kim Leadbeater, said the safeguards are the “most robust” in the world, but others argued it is a “slippery slope towards death on demand”.

What is in the bill?

The purpose of the bill is to allow adults aged 18 and over, who have mental capacity, are terminally ill and are in the final six months of their life, to request assistance from a doctor to die.

This is subject to “safeguards and protections” which include:

• They must have a “clear, settled and informed wish to end their own life” and have reached this decision voluntarily, without coercion or pressure;
• They must have lived in England or Wales for 12 months and be registered with a GP;
• Two independent doctors must be satisfied the person meets the criteria and there must be at least seven days between the doctors making the assessments;
• If both doctors state the person is eligible, then they must apply to the High Court for approval of their request;
• If the High Court decides that the applicant meets the bill’s requirements, then there is a 14-day reflection period (or 48 hours if death is imminent);
• After this, the person must make a second declaration, which would have to be signed and witnessed by one doctor and another person.

What happens if the eligibility criteria is met?

If a person meets all this eligibility criteria, a life-ending “approved substance” would be prescribed.

This would be self-administered, so the individual wishing to die must take it themselves.

This is sometimes called physician-assisted dying and is different from voluntary euthanasia, when a health professional would administer the drugs.

As well as all the conditions set out above, the bill would make it illegal to pressure or coerce someone to make a declaration that they wish to end their life, or take the medicine.

These offences will be punishable by a maximum 14-year prison sentence.