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Euthanasia vs assisted dying

In euthanasia a doctor gives the drug that ends the patient's life. In assisted dying the patient takes it themselves after a doctor has prescribed it.

Updated 12 October 2026 (1 minute read)

Summary

  • Assisted dying is also called assisted suicide. Campaigners keep the first term for people who are already terminally ill.
  • Both are illegal in the UK. Helping someone to end their life carries up to 14 years in prison in England and Wales under the Suicide Act 1961.
  • A bill to allow assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales passed the House of Commons in June 2025 and ran out of time in the House of Lords in April 2026. MPs voted down a second bill in September 2026.
  • Both differ from withdrawing treatment, and from giving pain relief that may shorten life as a side effect.

In practice

  • Suicide itself is not a crime in England and Wales. Section 1 of the Suicide Act 1961 ended that rule.
  • The offence is encouraging or assisting it. A prosecution under section 2 needs the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions, who leads the Crown Prosecution Service.

In Hong Kong

  • The Medical Council of Hong Kong's code defines euthanasia as the direct intentional killing of a person as part of the medical care being offered, and calls it illegal and unethical (section 34.2).
  • The same code says that withholding or withdrawing artificial life support from a terminally ill patient is not euthanasia (section 34.3).
  • Where the patient and relatives disagree, the code says the patient's right to decide should prevail over the relatives' wishes (section 34.4).

Interview questions

  • What is the difference between euthanasia and assisted dying?
  • What safeguards would an assisted dying law need?
  • Should doctors be the ones to help patients die?

Sources

  1. legislation.gov.uklegislation.gov.uk/…/1
  2. legislation.gov.uklegislation.gov.uk/…/2
  3. Medical Council of Hong Kongmchk.org.hk/…/Code_of_Professional_Conduct_%28English_Version%29_%28Revise

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