Overview

This bill aims to establish a legal right for eligible individuals in England and Wales to die at home or in their chosen place of residence. It mandates the government to create regulations ensuring healthcare professionals facilitate this wish, provided a doctor assesses the person's life expectancy as three months or less.

Description

The Right to Die at Home Bill seeks to give individuals a legal right to die at home, subject to specific criteria. Key aspects include:

• Eligibility: The bill defines eligibility, specifying that an attending doctor must determine the individual is likely to die within three months. Residency in the UK is also a condition of eligibility.
• GP Notification: The bill requires individuals to inform their GP of their wish to die at home; this must be recorded in their medical records.
• Healthcare Staff Obligations: Health and care staff will be obligated to support and facilitate the individual's wish.
• Definition of "Home": The bill requires the Secretary of State to define "home" and "the place that the person regards as home" within the regulations.
• Government Guidance and Promotion: The Secretary of State must create guidance for healthcare providers and raise public awareness of this right.
• Parliamentary Approval: Any regulations created under this act require approval from both Houses of Parliament.
• Geographic Scope: The bill applies only to England and Wales.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't specify exact figures for government spending. However, costs are anticipated to arise from the development of regulations, guidance for healthcare services, and public awareness campaigns. The exact financial implications will depend on the scale of these initiatives.

Groups Affected

This bill primarily affects:

• Terminally ill individuals: Provides them with a legal right to die at home, improving end-of-life care.
• General Practitioners (GPs): Requires them to record the patient's wishes and play a role in assessing eligibility.
• Health and care staff: Places a legal obligation on them to support the individual’s wishes.
• The Secretary of State: Responsible for creating regulations, guidance, and public awareness campaigns.

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