Assisted dying explained
Assisted dying (sometimes referred to as assisted death, aid in dying or help to die) has been defined as the involvement of healthcare professionals in the provision of lethal drugs intended to end a patient’s life, subject to eligibility criteria and safeguards.
It can include
- Assisted suicide, the practice of helping or assisting another person to end their life.
- Euthanasia, the practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering.
- Palliative sedation may in some cases accelerate the death of the patient, so sometimes it is also considered an assisted death.
See also
