An update on assisted dying legislation

Assisted dying legislation has been progressing in different parliaments across the UK and the Crown Dependencies, including in Westminster, Scotland, the Isle of Man and Jersey.

The bills are separate, and there are important differences between them. What happens to a bill in one parliament has no direct influence on what happens to the bills in other parliaments.

There are currently no plans for assisted dying legislation in Northern Ireland.

This article provides a summary of how the different bills are progressing and the next steps.

What we think

Our position on assisted dying remains neutral. We recognise that there are a variety of views on this issue among our members and the wider Parkinson's community. We are not campaigning for or against these bills.

What you need to know about the bill in Westminster

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) bill ran out of time to become law after it failed to clear the House of Lords on 24 April 2026.

Read our previous news story on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) bill.

This means that, as things currently stand, assisted dying will not be introduced in England or Wales. For this to change, another parliamentarian would need to reintroduce the bill (or a similar bill) to Parliament after the King’s Speech in May for consideration in the House of Commons and House of Lords. 

The rarely used Parliament Act could be invoked, meaning the reintroduced bill could be passed without the House of Lords' approval, but this could be controversial and might be challenged.

What you need to know about the assisted dying legislation in Scotland

The Scottish Parliament voted against the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill at the final debate on 17 March 2026.

This means that assisted dying will not be introduced in Scotland. For this to change, a new law would need to be brought forward, debated and passed by the Scottish Parliament.

Any changes to the law in other parts of the UK would not apply in Scotland.

What you need to know about the assisted dying legislation in the Isle of Man and Jersey

The Assisted Dying Bill was passed by Tynwald, the Isle of Man Parliament, on 25 March 2025. To be eligible, the person must be over the age of 18, terminally ill and "reasonably expected" to die within 12 months, and have the legal capacity to make the decision. The person must also have been an Isle of Man resident for 5 years and be registered with an Isle of Man GP. 2 independent doctors must verify the decision.

The Assisted Dying Law was passed by the States Assembly, the Jersey Parliament, on 26 February 2026. To be eligible, a person must be:

•  over the age of 18 
• have a terminal illness causing unbearable physical suffering, where they are expected to die within 6 months, or 12 months if diagnosed with a neurodegenerative condition such as Parkinson's or motor neurone disease (MND)
• have decision-making capacity
• have been a Jersey resident for at least 12 months.

2 independent doctors must assess the request. Unlike in all other jurisdictions, a doctor or nurse would be allowed to administer the substance to end the person’s life, or they could support the person to administer the substance themselves.

Both bills are waiting for Royal Assent (or formal approval) in the UK before they can come into effect.

We'll continue to monitor and keep our community informed about the progress of the bills.