TV Doctor Hilary Jones Says He Would Help Terminally Ill to Die If Law ChangedGP says assisted dying is the “most humane, kind and compassionate” option for those suffering at end of life
Popular television GP Dr Hilary Jones has come out strongly in favour of assisted dying, stating that he would support a terminally ill patient in ending their life—if the law were to change.
The long-serving medical professional, well known for his appearances on Good Morning Britain and Lorraine, said medicine risks regressing to the “Dark Ages” should Parliament vote down the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, due back in the Commons this Friday.
Speaking to the PA news agency, Dr Jones described assisted dying as a “kind and compassionate” act, and said that doctors currently live in fear of legal repercussions when treating patients approaching the end of life.
“People are looking over their shoulders because of the medications they’re using or the doses they’re using,” he said. “It means that patients aren’t getting the best palliative care they could have.”
The Bill, applicable to England and Wales, would allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to apply for assisted dying. Applications would require the agreement of two doctors and an expert panel. While doctors already hold a legal right to opt out, MPs last month voted to extend this safeguard to pharmacists, nurses, and care workers.
Dr Jones, who has practised medicine for more than 45 years, said he has always supported assisted dying. Having worked on cancer wards, he said he has seen firsthand the toll of terminal illness—even when patients receive excellent palliative care.
“I’ve always felt it is the most humane, kind and compassionate thing that relatives and doctors can provide,” he said. “Knowing that the person’s wishes are respected, that there is full mental capacity, and that they are surrounded by love—what could be more dignified?”
Asked whether he would personally assist a patient under the proposed legal framework, Dr Jones was unequivocal. “Absolutely,” he said. “If I know the patient, I know their wishes, and I see them suffering—when there’s nothing more I can do—I would hold their hand and help them achieve what they want.”
But the issue remains divisive. While campaigners argue the Bill offers dignity and autonomy, critics fear it could pressure vulnerable people into ending their lives prematurely.
Our Duty of Care, a group of healthcare professionals opposed to assisted dying, warned the law could undermine the principle of true choice. Dr Gillian Wright, a spokesperson for the group, said: “If someone hasn’t had access to proper palliative care, psychological support, or social care—can they really make a free and informed decision?”
She added, “With the NHS under immense strain, hospices cutting services, and palliative care stretched thin, now is not the time to legalise assisted dying. We should be investing in support, not ending lives.”
The Bill has also drawn scepticism from within the medical establishment. The Royal College of Physicians has flagged “concerning deficiencies”, while the Royal College of Psychiatrists has said it cannot support the current proposals due to “serious concerns”.
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Dr Jones, however, remains firm in his belief that the law should change. He recalled the suffering of his own mother, a former nurse, who endured a difficult death despite receiving what he called the “best possible palliative care”.
“She would be proud of me speaking on this subject now, in the way I am,” he said.
He emphasised that the measure was about offering choice, not compulsion. “This is not mandatory. It’s not being imposed on anyone,” he said. “It’s about respecting the individual’s right to choose—particularly when facing a terminal illness, with no hope of cure, and the very real fear of an undignified death.”
“If the Bill is rejected,” he warned, “we’d be back to square one—back to the Dark Ages in terms of medical ethics. That would be a real tragedy.”
