Bishop Helen-Ann is currently taking part in the 13-member House of Lords Select Committee, taking evidence on the safeguarding and procedures in the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
By the end of the committee, Bishop Helen-Ann will have taken part in six public meetings and the group will report back no later than 7 November, when the Bill will then progress to the next stage.
First Public Meeting: Wednesday 22 October
Given that the policy intent of the Bill's sponsors is to integrate assisted dying with palliative care, Bishop Helen-Ann asks whether the Royal College of Nursing is right to be worried that assisted dying and palliative care may become muddled.
Second Public Meeting: Thursday 23 October
Bishop Helen-Ann asks whether the panel have concerns about particular populations in relation to the Bill and also how the Bill might impact wider suicide prevention efforts.
Third Public Meeting: Wednesday 29 October
With 43% of palliative care staff saying they would leave their role if their organisation began offering assisted dying, Bishop Helen-Ann asks why so many might feel this way and what concerns the panel has about assisted dying taking place in hospice and palliative care settings.
Bishop Helen-Ann recognises that palliative care experiences can be quite unequal and asks whether the panel are concerned that inequalities could be worsened if this Bill is passed.
Fourth Public Meeting: Thursday 30 October
In light of widespread experiences of discrimination in healthcare, particularly for thos who are disabled or with learning disabilities, Bishop Helen-Ann asks whether the panel of witnesses have concerns about doctors being able to raise assisted dying with patients.