Mental Capacity, Terminal Illness and Assisted Dying

On 20th June the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed a key vote in Westminster. While there will be further changes it is almost certain this Bill will now become law. Social workers will have a key role to play in assessing mental capacity for those eligible and opting for an assisted death.

Relatively little is known about assessing mental capacity when an adult has a terminal illness. This on-line event will pool expertise around a series of key questions which BASW will then use to inform legislators and civil servants. The first part of the event will bring participants up to speed on the content and likely journey of the Bill. The event is likely to be of particular interest to Best Interests Assessors in England and Wales.