New Clause 15: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
New Clause 15 - Investigation of deaths etc
“(1) In section 1 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (duty to investigate certain deaths), after subsection (7) insert—
‘(7A) In this Chapter a reference to an “unnatural death” does not include a death caused by the self-administration by the deceased of an approved substance, within the meaning of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Act 2025, that was provided to the deceased in accordance with that Act.’
(2) In section 20 of that Act (medical certificate of cause of death), after subsection (4) insert—
‘(4A) Regulations under subsection (1) may make, in respect of cases where assistance was provided or purportedly provided to the deceased under the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Act 2025—
(a) such provision that is similar to, or that corresponds to, provision mentioned in subsection (1) as the Secretary of State considers appropriate;
(b) such further provision as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
(4B) Regulations under subsection (1) must provide that in cases where the cause of death appears, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the person issuing a certificate under the regulations, to be the self-administration by the deceased of an approved substance (within the meaning of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Act 2025) that was provided to the deceased in accordance with that Act, the certificate must—
(a) state the cause of death to be “assisted death”, and
(b) contain a record of the illness or disease which caused the person to be terminally ill within the meaning of that Act.’
(3) In Schedule 1 to that Act (suspension of investigations etc), in the definition in paragraph 1(6) of ‘homicide offence’, after paragraph (d) insert—
‘(e) an offence under section 31, 32 or 33 of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Act 2025;’.”—(Kim Leadbeater.)