News6th March 2025

Nuffield Council on Bioethics publishes final report from in-depth exploration of public views on assisted dying in England

A new report from the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB) combines detailed insights from England’s first Citizens’ Jury on assisted dying and two nationally representative surveys of 2000 people to provide a timely and comprehensive analysis of public views on the topic.

Assisted dying

This final report brings together all of the evidence and insights from our project exploring public views on assisted dying. The aim of this project was to address the evidence gap that has been present in the national conversation on assisted dying. Whilst opinion polls are useful in gauging levels of agreement or disagreement on the topic, there was a notable lack of insight into the underlying factors – including the ethical, social and practical considerations – that influence how people living in England think and feel about assisted dying.

To address this, we appointed  Hopkins Van Mil (HVM), a specialist deliberative social research agency, to design and deliver a public engagement project exploring public attitudes towards the subject. They worked with partners M.E.L Research and the Sortition Foundation.

Using a mixed methods approach, including two nationally representative surveys and most notably England’s first Citizens’ Jury on assisted dying, we have been able to provide rich, credible and in-depth qualitative evidence for policy makers and legislators. And, as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill continues to be debated, we have provided these insights when they have been needed the most.

It has been a privilege to work with the Nuffield Council on Bioethics on such a timely and significant project. By bringing a diverse group of people together to reflect meaningfully over time we are now able to understand not only what people think about assisted dying, but why they think it. This, when viewed alongside the survey insights, paints a rich and detailed picture of what the public wants to happen. I hope this evidence will be heard and acted upon by those who will be making decisions about this soon.”

Henrietta Hopkins, Director of Hopkins Van Mil

Analysis across the Citizens’ Jury and the two nationally representative surveys suggests the public supports the legalisation of assisted dying in England if it is limited to terminally ill adults who have the capacity to make that decision. Choice, autonomy and freedom are key concepts underpinning the public’s arguments for this change. Further insights revealed that a person’s view on assisted dying is shaped by the level of confidence they have in effective safeguarding being possible, and the imminence to which they have been confronted with their own or a loved one’s death.  

Our analysis also suggests that people living in England want to see the act of helping a friend or family member to travel abroad for an assisted death decriminalised, and that there should be a significant focus on – and investment in – NHS palliative care. Both of these findings reflect what the public wants to happen regardless of whether assisted dying is legalised or not.

“This final report provides a detailed and comprehensive overview of what underpins public views on assisted dying. It also shines a light on what people want to see prioritised even if the law was not changed to permit it.

I am pleased we can make this evidence available now, when it is so clearly needed, and I urge all of those who have influence on current debates to make use of what we have found. Whether we legalise assisted dying or not, it is clear the public wants to see change and the insights we are publishing today can help decision-makers who are needing to navigate this ethically charged topic do so in a way that is sensitive to citizen’s views.”

Professor Anne Kerr, Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics’ Assisted Dying Advisory Group