Safeguards must be put in place as part of assisted dying laws, committee hears

'Unbearable suffering with no prospect of relief plays a central role in the Netherlands and Belgium, the US states focus on a terminal illness with a time-limited prognosis and Canada, New Zealand and Victoria require both', committee told

The most important question in legislating for assisted dying is whether safeguards can be put in place to protect vulnerable people, the Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying has heard.

The commission discussed consent and capacity with Dr Louise Campbell, lecturer in medical ethics in the School of Medicine, University of Galway, and barrister Finn Keyes.