When a patient seeks advice or information about assistance to die

The standards of good practice apply to doctors, physician associates and anaesthesia associates (collectively referred to as medical professionals and whom we address directly as ‘you’ throughout the guidance). As with all our professional standards, this guidance applies to all our registrants to the extent it is relevant to the individual’s practice.

This guidance will help you decide what information you can give to your patient about assisted dying while acting within the law. It’s important to note that the guidance doesn’t prevent medical professionals from proposing, providing or prescribing medicines to alleviate pain or other distressing symptoms, or from promising to do so.

You should also read the separate Guidance for the Investigation Committee and case examiner when considering allegations about a doctor’s involvement in encouraging or assisting suicide. It covers matters such as subject access requests under the data protection law, writing reports, and compassionate actions by doctors who are patients’ family members.

This guidance came into effect 31 January 2013. It was updated on 15 October 2014, 18 June 2015 and 13 December 2024 when regulation of physician associates and anaesthesia associates by the GMC came into effect.