Statements & Comments

22 September – 22 December 2021

Liam McArthur, Member of the Scottish Parliament, lodged a proposal for a Member's Bill to enable competent adults who are terminally ill to be provided at their request with assistance to end their life: the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. The public was invited to submit written comments on the proposed Member’s Bill. DIGNITAS wrote a submission in support of the proposed Bill

Consultation Document (Link)

Submission by DIGNITAS – To live with dignity – To die with dignity (PDF)

Information about the Consultation by FATE – Friends At The End (Link)

15 December 2019

The Food and Health Bureau of the Government of Hong Kong invited the public to submit views on end-of-life care legislative proposals regarding advance directives and dying in place. DIGNITAS contributed to the consultation by sending in a submission.

Website with the Consultation Papers (Link)

Submission by DIGNITAS - To live with dignity - To die with dignity (PDF)

5 August 2019

On 4 April 2019, the Parliament of South Australia established the Joint Committee on End of Life Choices. DIGNITAS – To live with dignity – To die with dignity contributed to the inquiry by sending the Committee a submission.

Website of the Parliament - Joint Committee on End of Life Choices (Link)

Submission by DIGNITAS - To live with dignity - To die with dignity (PDF)

24 August 2018

The South Africa Parliament invited the public to submit written comments on a proposal for a bill on Advance Directives (Livings Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare), a comment on the National Health Amendment Bill 2018, aiming at gaining legal recognition, legal clarity, and legal enforceability of Advance Directives. DIGNITAS submitted a letter in support of the proposed legal recognition.

Government Gazette Notice 41789 (Link)

Submission by DIGNITAS – To live with dignity – To die with dignity (PDF)

27 February 2018

In New Zealand, MP David Seymour introduced the “End of Life Choice Bill” (Bill 269-1) which gives people with a terminal illness or a grievous and irremediable medical condition the option of requesting assisted dying. In response to the public inquiry by the Justice Committee of the Parliament of New Zealand, DIGNITAS - To live with dignity - To die with dignity handed in a submission. This complements DIGNITAS’ earlier submission in response to the investigation into ending one’s life in New Zealand based on the petition no. 2014/18 of Hon Maryan Street and 8,974 others.

Website of the New Zealand Parliament (Link)

Submission by DIGNITAS - To live with dignity - To die with dignity (PDF)

June 2015 – February 2016

In New Zealand, the Health Select Committee of the Parliament has received a petition of Hon Maryan Street and 8,974 others requesting “That the House of Representatives investigate fully public attitudes towards the introduction of legislation which would permit medically-assisted dying in the event of a terminal illness or an irreversible condition which makes life unbearable.” An investigation into ending one’s life in New Zealand was undertaken and public submissions were called on this petition, no. 2014/18.

Website of the New Zealand Parliament (Link)

Submission by DIGNITAS - To live with dignity - To die with dignity (PDF)

30 July 2015

Inquiry into End of Life Choices
Are Victorian laws adequately meeting people’s expectations regarding medical options available at the end of their life?
The Legislative Council’s Legal and Social Issues Committee of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia, called for submission as it is interested in the community’s views, insights and experiences in relation to this issue, to inform its recommendations to the Parliament.

Website of the Parliament - Inquiry into End of Life Choices (Link)

Submission by DIGNITAS (PDF)

20 August 2014

In Australia, Federal Greens Senator and former GP Dr Richard Di Natale, has tabled an exposure draft for national dying with dignity - legislation in the Australian Senate. The Senate has passed a motion to have that Bill considered by a Senate Inquiry. The Inquiry has called for submissions from the public on the Bill. Dignitas has handed in a submission.

Website of the Australian Parliament / Exposure Draft (Link)

Exposure Draft (Link to PDF)

Submission by DIGNITAS (PDF)

14 November 2013 / 6 June 2014

In Scotland, parliament member Margo MacDonald presented a revised proposal for an „Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill", to make it lawful, in certain circumstances, to assist another to commit suicide; and for connected purposes.
A Commitee called for written evidence. Dignitas has submitted a response.

Details of the Bill (Link to the website of the Scottish Parliament)

Speech of Silvan Luley of Dignitas, at the press launch in Edinburgh: (PDF)

Campaign website (Link)

Response/submission (short version) by DIGNITAS (PDF)

Response/submission (full version) by DIGNITAS (PDF)

3 July 2012 / 20 November 2012

In England, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Choice at the End of Life, in partnership with Dignity in Dying, launched a draft Assisted Dying Bill for consultation. The draft Bill builds on the recommendations of the Commission on Assisted Dying, which published its findings in January 2012.

Based on its considerations for a proposal for an Assited Sucide (Scotland) Bill and the submission to the Commission on Assited Dying, DIGNITAS handed in a response to the APPG.

Website of the APPG (Link)

Response/submission of DIGNITAS to the consultation (PDF)

23 January 2012 / 1 May 2012

In Scotland, parliament member Margo MacDonald lodged a proposal for a Bill, the „Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bil", to enable a competent adult with a terminal illness or condition to request assistance to end their own life, and to decriminalise certain actions taken by others to provide such assistance.

A consultation was held until 30 April 2012.

The proposed Bill includes elements of the practice of accompanied suicides in Switzerland as well as of the „Death with Dignity Act” of the US-State of Oregon.

Website of the Scottish Parliament with consultation document (Link)

Response/submission of DIGNITAS to the consultation (PDF)

5 May 2011 / 3 October 2011 / 5 January 2012

In England, Lord Falconer launched The Commission on Assisted Dying which - amongst other aims -  shall investigate the circumstances under which it should be possible for people to be assisted to die. See their website www.commissiononassisteddying.co.uk. In answer to the Commission's Call for evidence, DIGNITAS handed in a submission:

Submission of DIGNITAS to the Commission on Assisted Dying (PDF)

The submission by DIGNITAS is now online, on the website of the Commission, (No. 1012, Evidence from Dignitas), amongst many other submissions.

Upon the visit of two delegates of the Commission on Assisted Dying, DIGNITAS provided additional notes to answer specific questions of the Commissioneers. Available here (PDF)

Final Report of the Commission on Assisted Dying (Link)

28 August 2004

DIGNITAS-Memorandum to the Select-Comitee of Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill, of the House of Lords (PDF)