Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 27 June 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying

Consent and Capacity: Discussion

Dr. Louise Campbell:

However, assisted dying is where a prescription is provided by the doctor. After a process of assessment has been completed and the person is deemed eligible and the safeguards are deemed to be adequate within the law, a prescription is then provided to the person and he or she will either fill the prescription and self-administer the medication or choose not to do so. Both are covered under the term "medical assistance in dying". In the dying with dignity legislation, there is also provision for administration, so that is my mistake. We are talking about the administration by the person themselves having received the prescription from a medical practitioner.