More than 250 of Wales’ leading medics have urged Senedd members not to back the proposed new assisted dying law when a vote takes place in Wales next week. In an open letter, the healthcare professionals, who include consultants across Wales, are urging politicians to block the Bill coming into effect coming into effect in the NHS in Wales. The letter says that there has been “inadequate” oversight of the bill, which will be debated and voted on on January 20, saying it “undermines devolved independence in healthcare and poses unacceptable risks to patient safety and equity”. They say the law is “deeply flawed”. It says: “We have worked across the nation with vulnerable patients, and in under-resourced health and social care services. Those who are distressed as they face a terminal illness deserve better. unachieved. We know that care provision currently fails too many, but this Bill is not the answer.” The medics argue that the Bill “fails to recognise the risks from mistaken diagnosis or misinformation. Accurate prognostication is impossible…. Patients will be eligible to access lethal drugs if they feel a burden or because of a lack of services. Coercion is often covert and difficult to detect, particularly when undue influence comes from family or from a person with authority.” The decision as to whether assisted dying should be legalised is not a matter for Senedd members, but one for Westminster, but the vote by Senedd Members will have an impact on what happens in Wales. In December, 2024, MPs first gave their backing to the proposal, which would allow people over the age of 18, who are expected to die within six months, to be given help to end their own life, subject to certain safeguards. The bill is still being debated in the House of Lords. The vote in the Senedd is what’s called a Legislative Consent Motion (LCM) and will look at how the new law would be used in Wales. If the LCM fails, it could mean that only private firms will be able to deliver assisted dying services in Wales for a fee and Welsh residents could have to travel to England for assessment and provision. Measures about Welsh-language access or Wales-specific clinical guidance which are being discussed would also be removed. A Senedd committee published a report into the proposed law in October, 2025. That said: “There is the potential for the availability of assisted dying services to be different in England and Wales. “Whilst we recognise this is a feature of the devolution settlement, we wish to highlight the significant implications of an asymmetrical cross-border approach, including uncertainty and inequity for patients, and operational challenges for health professionals.” That report also referenced how there could be differences if assisted dying was available via the NHS in England but only the private sector in Wales. A previous debate about assisted dying in Wales happened in October, 2024. The vote was non-binding, so didn’t change anything, and politicians were able to vote of their own accord, they weren’t bound by party lines. The vote did not pass. Ahead of the latest vote, campaigners from both sides are stepping up pressure on politicians. A letter has been signed by over 120 doctors, nurses, specialist nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, medical managers, radiographers, paramedics and physiologists. They say they have concerns about the specifics of the law and the scrutiny it has face and there are cross-border implications which could be “significant”, with 13,300 Welsh residents registered with GPs in England and over 21,100 English residents registered with GPs in Wales. Palliative care physician Dr Victoria Wheatley said: “Currently, people living in a quarter of Wales cannot access a hospice bed. This means they lack real choice. Funding a state-sponsored suicide service without first ensuring comprehensive palliative care is not the right approach for Wales.” Consultant psychiatrist Dr Stuart Porter warned: “There are real concerns that this bill will undermine Wales’ Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Delivery Plan (2025–2028). Psychiatrists have repeatedly highlighted that the Mental Capacity Act was never designed for this purpose, and the proposed role for psychiatrists on the panel is not supported by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.” Former Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dame Deidre Hine, said there were unintended consequences of changing the law and the risks to vulnerable groups such as homeless and disabled individuals. The letter in full: Dear Members of Senedd Cymru, As health care professionals, we are deeply concerned about the Terminally III Adults (End of Life) Bill. We have worked across the nation with vulnerable patients and in under-resourced health and social care services. Those who are distressed as they face a terminal illness deserve better. The inequity in provision of specialist palliative care and hospice beds is well known and articulated in Marie Curie report ‘At Breaking Point – time to transform end of life care in Wales’ (March 2025). The 2022 Quality statement for palliative and end of life care in Wales is ambitious but unachieved. We know that care provision currently fails too many, but this Bill is not the answer. The Bill’s definition of terminal illness fails to recognise the risks from mistaken diagnosis or misinformation. Accurate prognostica-tion is impossible. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here The Mental Capacity Act (MCA 2005) was not designed to assess suicidality. A full psychosocial and mental health assessment should be required for a person who presents with suicidal ideation, whether they are terminally ill or not. This Bill’s proposals undermine the ‘The Suicide Prevention and Self-harm Delivery Plan for Wales 2025-2028’. Patients will be eligible to access lethal drugs if they feel a burden or because of a lack of services. Coercion is often covert and difficult to detect, particularly when undue influence comes from family or from a person with authority. The oversight within this Bill is inadequate. The panel does not need to see the patient. The MHRA does not need to regulate the drugs. The coroner does not need to review the death. There is no mechanism for independent scrutiny of the assisted dying service, for appeal against panel approval or redress for distressed family members. Will the Senedd concur with UK Parliament providing patients the means to take their own lives when we know they will not get a hospice bed or meaningful counselling? In 2024, Senedd Cymru was strongly opposed to the ideology of the introduction of assisted dying in Wales. The Bill contains sweeping Henry VIII powers, which have been extensively criticised by the Constitution Committee. These powers would allow the Secretary of State to make regulations directly impacting Wales and disrespects our devolved independence in healthcare. We urge the Senedd to decline legislative consent connected to this deeply flawed Bill. Yours sincerely, Emma Abel, Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist, Merthyr Tydfil Jenna Allsopp, Clinical Nurse Specialist , Cardiff Lori Amos, Nurse, Cardiff Dr Charlotte Ansell, Palliative Care Registrar, Newport Dr Mohammed Anwar, Specialty Registrar, Swansea Sharon Ashcroft, Physiotherapist Specialising in Persistent Pain, Dyfed Dr Jane Ashwell, Consultant Anaesthetist (retired), Cardiff Dr Megumi Baba, Consultant Paediatric Palliative Medicine, Cardiff Dr Aram Baghomian, Consultant Gastroenterologist, North Wales Gaenor Baghomian, Nurse (retired), Dr Russell Banner, Consultant Oncologist, Cowbridge Dr Julie Barker, GP with Special Interest in Palliative & End of Life Care, Welshpool Dr Atanu Basu, Physician, Abergele Dr Victoria Bayliss, Specialty Doctor, Palliative Medicine, Usk Dr Craig Beaton, Intensive Care and Anaesthetic Consultant, Denbigh Astrid Beenken, NHS Staff Nurse (retired), Rhyl Dr Elen Berry, Respiratory Speciality Registrar, Wales Dr Eve Blakemore, GP, Conwy Kim Briggs, Hospice nurse, Pembrokeshire Anne Bristow, Occupational Therapist, Colwyn Bay Dr Eleanor Brown, GP (retired), Cardiff Dr Karen Brown, Consultant Nephrologist/Acute Medicine, Clynderwen Dr George Bugelli, Consultant Anaesthetist, Prestatyn Dr Tania Bugelli, Consultant Psychiatrist, North Wales Dr Lara Burton, Foundation Doctor, Cardiff Anthony Byrne, Palliative Medicine Consultant, Cardiff Dr Margred Capel, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Cardiff Gillian Carter, Specialist Nurse, Pembrokeshire Jacqueline Casson, NHS Manager, North Wales Kathryn Caughey, GP Specialty Trainee, Cardiff Dr Sanghamitra Chakrabarti, Consultant Physician, Rhyl Dr Indrajit Chattopadhyay, Consultant, Rhyl Dr Eley Chiu, Specialty Doctor in Psychiatry, Cardiff Dr Alistair Church, Consultant Neurologist, Newport Professor Angus Clarke, Professor in Clinical Genetics , Barry Lynsey Clarke, Respiratory Specialist Nurse, Hawarden Bronwen Clatworthy, Midwife, Aberbeeg Carol Clemence, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Colwyn Bay Dr Terry Collingwood, Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine, Gwynedd Mr Andrew Colwill, Physiotherapist, Cardiff Dr Alice Crabtree, Consultant Palliative medicine, Cardiff Debra Cross, Staff nurse, Swansea Dr Bethan Cumins, GP Registrar, Cardiff Angela Dacey, Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist, Cardiff Nicole Daniels, Occupational therapist, Swansea Dr Paul Das, Consultant Cardiologist, North Wales Dr Glesni Davies, Consultant Geriatrician, North Wales Dr Gwenllian Davies, Consultant in Palliative medicine, Llanelli Dr Sarah Davies, Consultant Respiratory Physician, Colwyn Bay Dr Karl Davis, Consultant Geriatrician, Cardiff Dr Anthony Dew, Clinical Lead Intermediate Care, Pembrokeshire Dr Ravi Dissanayake, Consultant Physician, Haverfordwest Jane Dixon, Clinical Nurse Specialist Palliative Care, Gwent Dr Klaudia Dobrzycka, Specialty Doctor in Palliative Medicine, Haverfordwest Dr Simon Dobson, GP, Rhyl Alison Docherty, Palliative Care Occupational therapist, Cardiff Dr James Douglas, Intensive Care Medicine & Anaesthetics, Cardiff Dr Selina D’Silva, Palliative Care Doctor, Cardiff Dr Tiffany D’Silva, Palliative Care Doctor, Caerdydd Dr Ruth Dwyer, Anaesthetist (retired), Swansea Dr Sean Dwyer, Consultant Anaesthetist, Swansea Dr Sarah Dyer, Physician, Wrexham Dr Marc Edwards, GP, Bangor Dr Rhodri Edwards, Consultant Physician and Geriatrician, Swansea Mr Lee Edwards, Palliative Care Paramedic, Cwmbran Dr Sioned Enlli, GP, Caernarfon Janette Espley, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Palliative Care, Merthyr Tydfil Dr Peter Evans, GP Senior Partner, Bridgend Dr Louisa Evans, GP, Bridgend Joanne Evans, Occupational Therapist, Neath Port Talbot Rebecca Evans, Specialist Nurse, Swansea Dr Helen Fielding, Consultant Palliative Medicine, Carmarthenshire Professor Andrew Finlay, Professor of Dermatology (retired), Cardiff Dr Rhian Finn, Respiratory Consultant, Swansea Jess Fitzpatrick, Clinical Palliative Care Nurse, Cardiff Dr Harri Foster Davies, Surgical Resident Doctor, Cardiff Sue Fosterjohn, Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (retired), Wales Dr Gareth Francis, Acute Oncology Clinical Fellow, Swansea Dr Ria Fraser, Specialty Dr Palliative Medicine, Porthcawl Laura Ganesh, RGN Palliative Care, Merthyr tydfil Julia Gaskell, Occupational Therapist, Llandrindod Wells Terri Gazi, Lead Nurse Hospice (retired), Cardiff Dr Aoife Gleeson, Consultant, cardiff Georgina Glover, Specialist palliative care paramedic, Swansea Bernadette Griffiths, Health care support worker, Aberdare Ithwen Angharad Griffiths, Nyrs, Caerfyrddin Lynda Griffiths, Palliative Care Nurse, Mountain Ash Non Griffiths, Physiotherapist, Cardiff Joanne Gronow, Nurse, Barry Leanne Groves, Specialist Nurse, Denbighshire Dr Pola Grzybowska, Palliative Medicine Consultant , Cardiff Dr Bibek Gupta, Consultant Psychiatrist in Old Age Psychiatry, Llanelli Dr Sarbari Gupta, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Llantrisant Dr Sarah Gwynne, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Swansea Dr Andrew Haden, Consultant Geriatrician, Swansea Professor Richard Hain, Consultant in Paediatric Palliative Medicine, All-Wales Julie Hamer, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Chronic Pain, Neath Dr Susan Hamilton, Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bangor Dr Tim Hamilton, Palliative medicine consultant, Cardiff Portia Hampton Wale, Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist, Pembrokeshire Dr Catherine Handley, GP, Cardiff Bethany Hannaford, Childrens Community Nurse, Cardiff Dr Elin Harding, Clinical Research Fellow in Palliative Medicine, Cardiff Dr Joan Hardway, GP, Rhyl Dr Richard Hardway, GP, Rhyl Dr Dewi Harris, Retired, Hwlffordd Dylan Harris, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Cardiff Belinda Hawkins, Radiographer, Mold Dr Jo Hayes, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Cardiff Dr William Henderson, Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist, Bridgend Meinir Henry, Health Visitor (retired), Pontypridd Dr Maria Herbert, Palliative Care Registrar, Cardiff Beth Hewes, Palliative Care Paramedic, Swansea Kathryn Hill, Palliative Care Advanced Paramedic, Cardiff Dame Deirdre Hine, Former Chief Medical Officer , Cardiff Mr Daniel Holmes, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Swansea Professor Ben Hope-Gill, Consultant Respiratory Physician, Cardiff Dr Michael Hope-Gill, GP (retired), Bridgend Dr Gwenllian Hughes, GP and Palliative Care Doctor, Cardiff Dr Kathryn Hughes, GP Specialty Trainee, Cardiff Dr Menna Hughes, Specialty Dr Palliative Care, Llantrisant Anna Hughes, Pharmacist, Wrexham Dr David Jackson, Consultant Radiologist, Dinas Powys Mr Edwin Jesudason, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Bangor Claire John, Nursing Ward Sister/Manager, Cardiff Dr Faye Johnson, Palliative Medicine Consultant, Swansea Alison Johnson, Neuroscience research nurse , Caerdydd Louise Johnson, Clinical nurse Specialist , Cardiff Dr Julie Jones, Associate Specialist, Bodelwyddan Debra Jones, Nurse, Abergele Sarah Jones, Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist, specialist palliative care, Pembs. Dr Fady Joseph, Consultant Neurologist, Newport Dr Sarah Kennedy, GP, Llantrisant Dr Ranj Khaffaf, Consultant Pain Medicine, Merthyr Tydfil Dr Mutaher Khatib, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist (retired), Cardiff Dr Hannah Khirwadkar, Consultant Neuroradiologist, Swansea Dr Lucy Kingdon, Resident Doctor, Swansea Dr Elizabeth Kubiak, Consultant Pathologist (Clinical Microbiology), Newport Mr Nagappan Kumar, Consultant Hepatobiliary surgeon, Cardiff Dr Charlotte Lawthom, Consultant Neurologist, Cardiff Dr Ming Lee, GP, Wrexham Mr Joshua Lee, Physiotherapist, Swansea Dr Nicky Leopold, Consultant Geriatrician, Swansea Dr Anna Lewis, Consultant Respiratory Physician, Cwm Taf Morgannwg Dr Patricia Lewis, GP (retired), Narberth Dr Sarah Lewis, Consultant Haematologist, Abergavenny Rachel Lewis, Nurse, Denbighshire Dr Gemma Lewis-Williams, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Ynys Mon Dr Karene Lim, Consultant Radiologist, Cardiff Dr Gokulkrishnan Lingesan, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Ceredigion Dr David Lloyd, GP (retired), Swansea Leigh Lowe, Palliative Care Nurse, Swansea Dr Iain Macgregor, GP, Swansea Dr Susan Macgregor, Specialty Doctor, Swansea Dr Maha Mansour, Consultant Paediatrician, Swansea Dr Carol Manwell, GP (retired), Llanybydder John Marston, Pharmacist, St Asaph Dr Emma Mason, Consultant in Acute and Palliative Medicine, Cardiff Dr Nicholas Mason, Consultant Anaesthetist, Cardiff Dr Samah Massalha, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Rhyl Sarah McClean, Student Physiotherapist, Cardiff Reena McClure, Physiotherapist, Bridgend Dr Sean McCormack, GP (retired), Abergele Elaine McGleish, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Bridgend Louise McGrath, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Cardiff Leanne Mcmillan, Welfare rights officer, Cardiff Daisy McMullen, Student Physiotherapist, Cardiff Dr Andrew Mitchell, Staff Grade Psychiatrist (retired), Newtown Powys Mr Jefkins Mndala, Nurse, Port Talbot Dr Susan Morgan, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Swansea Bay Dr Alexandria Morgan, Consultant Anaesthetist, Swansea Dr Nicola Morgan, Consultant Paediatrician, Cardiff Glenda Morris, Senior Nurse, Swansea Margaret Moss, Nurse including Marie Curie nursing (retired), Cardiff Dr Sian Newman, GP, Castell Newydd Emlyn Rhian Newton, Pharmacist, Swansea Dr Lean Lik Ng, Anaesthetist Registrar, Swansea Kathrine O Connell, Clinical Nurse Specialist Deputy Team Leader, Cardiff Dr Brendan O’Reilly, GP, Pontyclun Annie Osterloff, RN Ward Manager Specialist Palliative Care, Swansea Dr Katharine Owen, GP, Llanelli Dr Rebecca Owen, GP, Abergele Dr Rhian Owen, Macmillan Consultant in Palliative Medicine (retired), Cardiff Dr Delyth Parry, GP (retired), Bae Colwyn Dr Rosemary Patten, Consultant Palliative Medicine, Cardiff Dr Nikki Pease, Consultant Palliative Medicine, Cardiff Dr Kathryn Pinkham, GP , Llanelli DR Stuart Porter, Consultant Psychiatrist, Prestatyn Jaqueline Pottle, Occupational Therapist (retired), North Wales Dr Simon Poulter, Consultant Anaesthetist, Bridgend Carolyn Powell, Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Soecialist, Merthyr Tydfil Dr Prakrit Prasad, Locum Senior House Officer, Cardiff Helen Prentice, Occupational Therapy Technical Instructor (retired), Conwy Dr Georgina Prestwich, Palliative Care Registrar, Cardiff Lynn Pritchard, Senior Physiotherapist (retired), Abergele Dr Annell Prosser, Palliative Medicine Specialist Registrar, Swansea Dr Christine Range, Consultant Anaesthetist, Llanelli Professor Fiona Rawlinson, Consultant in Palliative Care, Cardiff Dr Sara Razvi, GP, Cardiff Dr Emily Rea, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Newport, Wales Nicole Rees, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Palliative Care, Maesteg, Bridgend Kealey Roberts, Assistant Practitioner, Denbigshire Rachel Roberts, Palliative Occupational Therapist, Cardiff Dr Hannah Robinson, Palliative Medicine Consultant, Cardiff Dr Richard Robinson, GP, Aberaeron Gwen Robinson, Nurse, Colwyn Bay Dr Miriam Rodriguez Winter, GP, Newtown Mich Rogers, Nurse, Lla Dr Rebecca Ryvar, GP, Gronant Dr Sian Saha, Consultant, Cardiff Dr Marvic Sammut, Specialty Doctor Community Paediatrics, St Asaph Dr Francis Sansbury, Consultant Clinical Geneticist, Cardiff Dr Ghislaine Sayer, Consultant Radiologist, Bangor Dr Julia Scaife, Consultant Physician and Geriatrician, Swansea Alexandria Scarlett, Respiratory Physiologist, Rhyll Dr Siwan Seaman, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Caerdydd Catriona Seed, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Palliative Care, Cardiff Dr Alison Sherwood, GP (retired), Llanelli Holly Simmons, Occupational Therapist, Swansea Dr Victoria Suter-Jones, Consultant Geriatrician, Cardiff Dr Loretta Sweeney, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Cardiff Linda Tadgell, Respiratory Nurse, Rhyl Michelle Tamlyn, Nurse, Tonypandy Professor Mark Taubert, NHS Consultant and Clinical Director, Cardiff Dr Osama Taweel, Consultant Physician, Sketty, Swansea Mr David Taylor, Physician Associate, Cardiff Julia Taylor, Palliative Care Nurse, Cardiff Dr Brian Tehan, Consultant Anaesthetist, Bodelwyddan Dr Elin Thomas, Consultant Stroke and Elderly Care Physician, Swansea Dr Owain Thomas, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Llanelli Ashleigh Thomas, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Newport Dr Chris Thomas-Brown, Palliative Care Doctor, Swansea Mr Hugh Tregoning, Professional Liason Consultant, Swansea Mr Jonathan Samuel Varghese, Medical Student, Cardiff Dr Sarah Venn, Public Health Consultant / GP (retired), Gwent Sian Vincent, Nurse, Bridgend Dr Patricia Walters, GP (retired), Wrexham Dr Lauren Warrington, Foundation Year 2 Doctor, Cardiff Mr Nicholas Watson, Advanced Nurse Practioner, Conwy Ellen Watt, Nursing Student, Cardiff Helen Way, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Cardiff Janet Weatherhead, Specialist Nurse, North Wales Dr Hefina Weaver, GP, Port Talbot Dr John Wells, Consultant Surgeon, Cardiff Dr Victoria Wheatley, Palliative Medicine Consultant, South Wales Dr Sairan Whitaker, Consultant Dermatologist, Swansea Dr Alison Whyte, Specialty Doctor in Palliative Medicine, Cardiff Margaret Wildman, Midwife (retired), Corwen Dr Anthony Williams, Palliative Medicine Consultant, Cardiff Dr Peter Williams, Consultant General Psychiatrist (retired), Cardifg Lynnette Williams, Specialist Nurse in Palliative Care (retired), Cardiff Michelle Williams, Healthcare Support Worker Palliative Care, Aberdare Samantha Williams, Nurse, Colwyn Bay Dr Anna Wilson, Specialist Registrar, Colwyn Bay Mr John Wilson, Prison Caseworker (retired), Deeside Alice Wilson, Clinical Lead Neurological Physiotherapist, Pembrokeshire Janette Wilson, Palliative Care Nurse (retired), Deeside Dr Mark Wiltshire, Section 12 Doctor, Cardiff Dr Christopher Woolley, Consultant Paediatrician, Cardiff Dr Sarah Wright, Radiology Registrar, Swansea Dr Tatyana Yermakova, Consultant Neurophysiologist, Newport

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