New polling reveals widespread concern assisted suicide will have a negative impact on disabled people and many will die early as a result

Exclusive new polling conducted by Whitestone Insight for Not Dead Yet UK reveals that a significant majority of the British public are concerned that proposals to legalise assisted suicide could negatively impact disabled people – with even stronger concern among disabled respondents themselves.

The main issues relate to the number of people who will be coerced into ending their lives early, either by individuals or through a sense of obligation. They also relate to the inappropriate timing of the legislation given health and social care cuts, and concerns around those in poverty.

Whitestone interviewed 2091 GB adults online between 4 and 5 June 2025,.492 respondents self identified as having a disability.  Data were weighted to be representative of all adults. Whitestone is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

The main data tables are below. Full datasets are available on request.

Key Findings:

Headline on priorities

Two in three (67%) agree that the UK Parliament should prioritise improving access to care for disabled people before introducing assisted suicide (only 13% disagree). This rises to 72% for people polled who are disabled.

Coercion concerns

Over 6 in 10 (63%) agree that some disabled people may feel a sense of responsibility to access an assisted death if they feel they are a burden on family, friends or society (only 16% disagree). This rises to over two-thirds (67%) for people polled who are disabled.

Six in ten (60%) agree that some disabled people could be coerced into assisted suicide by others who do not have their best interests at heart. This rises to 64% for people polled who are disabled.

Health and social care support cuts/ poverty concerns

57% agree that disabled people who struggle to access the support they need [1], given the current state of the NHS and social care funding, may be more likely to seek assisted suicide instead. (only 17% disagree). This rises to over 6 in 10 (63%) for people polled who are disabled.

59% agree that if disabled people are living in poverty [2], and benefits are being cut, they may be likely to seek assisted suicide instead of struggling financially (again only 17% disagree). This rises to 65% for people polled who are disabled.

When asked “if assisted suicide is available then some disabled people might not be offered more expensive health and social care support” only 31% disagreed.

[1] Background: This comes at a time when the NHS is widely reported to be stretched to the limit. And at the same time many disabled people struggle to access the care and support that they need to live independently - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jan/19/millions-shut-out-society-social-care-crisis-disabled-adults

[2] Background: Nearly 31% of disabled people are in poverty, compared to 20% of nondisabled people. [Source: JRF, UK Poverty 2019/20: Social security].

Mike Smith, spokesperson for Not Dead Yet UK, said:

“Disabled people have been sounding the alarm bells about assisted suicide and the Terminally Ill (End of Life) Bill for some time, but politicians, and particularly those working at the committee stage of the Bill, didn’t want to listen. Now they need to hear that a significant majority of the UK population agree disabled people’s lives will be threatened if this legislation is passed.

“Too many MPs are considering this legislation in the context of reducing some individual’s suffering at the end of life without having regard to the many thousands more whose lives will be threatened because of it. We have to consider not just the detail of the Bill, but the environment and reality into which it will be introduced.

“There is a real concern that assisted suicide will become the de facto primary option because existing infrastructure can’t cope with the pressures on it.

“Irrespective of where individual MPs are on the principle of assisted suicide, there is a clear justification that now is not the time to be introducing legislation such as this.

“Decent palliative care social care, free at the point of delivery like NHS treatment, have to come first. Otherwise, there will be untold early deaths because some people feel they have no meaningful choice. Is that really the kind of society we want to create?”

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson said:

“We are constantly being told that this bill is not for disabled people and there will not be coercion.   Coercion is an absolute reality in today’s society, and in every jurisdiction where assisted dying has been brought in, it has expanded either through legislation, the court system or practice.  It is very easy to see that this route will be suggested to disabled people who will be made to feel a burden.

“We are a critical moment in disabled people’s lives. The benefit system is there to support the most vulnerable in society. With this bill a figure has been put on the cost of our lives. Those in the medical profession will now be under pressure not to look at best treatment. They will be forced to decide what is the cheapest option.”

Baroness Jane Campbell said:

“Many of my parliamentary colleagues tell me their number one concern about legalising ‘assisted dying’ is the potential for coercion of vulnerable people by families or others, whether it’s conscious or unconscious, to seek an early death rather than become a burden or die in intolerable circumstances. This is a real societal assumption.

“Parliamentarians are right to be concerned. It is guaranteed that some people seeking an assistive death will die because they believe what society reinforces every day, that dying early is the only way to avoid such fears becoming a reality. Coercion is hard to detect, and the current bill offers no effective safeguards to prevent coerced applicants dying as a result. This is terrifying.

“In recent times disabled and older people have faced severe cuts to the support they receive to live independent, dignified lives. Scarce, inadequate accessible housing and lack of good social care support have made the challenges we face daily harder than ever. At times our situation becomes overwhelmingly unbearable and we see no way out. Many of us become susceptible to dark thoughts of a quick, final, solution rather than fight for the access, care and support which is essential to our happiness.

“At such times ‘assisted dying’ will seem the best option rather than continue the exhausting fight for the support we need to live life as our neighbours, family and friends do. It is essential therefore, we deal with the real barriers to a dignified life, rather than give up on people, who need a helping hand to get just that.

“We have it within our power to allay people's darkest fears by providing safe and supportive end-of-life care to all. If we don't, people will die for reasons that this Bill is not intended.”

Polling questions

Do you agree or disagree with each of these statements about assisted suicide and its possible impact on disabled people?

1.      Some disabled people may feel a sense of responsibility to access an assisted death if they feel they are a burden on family, friends or society.

2.      Disabled people who struggle to access the support they need, given the current state of the NHS and social care funding, may be more likely to seek assisted suicide instead.

3.      Some disabled people could be coerced into assisted suicide by others who do not have their best interests at heart.

4.      If assisted suicide is available, then some disabled people might not be offered more expensive health and social care support.

5.      If disabled people are living in poverty, and benefits are being cut, they may be likely to seek assisted suicide instead of struggling financially.

6.      The UK Parliament should prioritise improving access to care for disabled people before introducing assisted suicide.

The options were agreed strongly, agree, disagree, disagree strongly, don’t know/prefer not to say.

Main findings

	Some disabled people may feel a sense of responsibility to access an assisted death if they feel they are a burden on family, friends or society	Disabled people who struggle to access the support they need, given the current state of the NHS and social care funding, may be more likely to seek assisted suicide instead	Some disabled people could be coerced into assisted suicide by others who do not have their best interests at heart
Unweighted base	2091	2091	2091
Weighted base	2091	2091	2091
Agree strongly (4)	361	313	398
	17%	15%	19%
Agree (3)	946	871	850
	45%	42%	41%
Disagree (2)	232	264	265
	11%	13%	13%
Disagree strongly (1)	103	84	114
	5%	4%	5%
NET: Agree	1307	1184	1248
	63%	57%	60%
NET: Disagree	335	348	380
	16%	17%	18%
Don't know / Prefer not to say	448	559	464
	21%	27%	22%
Mean	2.95	2.92	2.94
Standard deviation	0.78	0.77	0.83
Standard error	0.02	0.02	0.02

	If assisted suicide is available, then some disabled people might not be offered more expensive health and social care support	If disabled people are living in poverty, and benefits are being cut, they may be likely to seek assisted suicide instead of struggling financially	The UK Parliament should prioritise improving access to care for disabled people before introducing assisted suicide
Unweighted base	2091	2091	2091
Weighted base	2091	2091	2091
Agree strongly (4)	242	342	640
	12%	16%	31%
Agree (3)	599	884	762
	29%	42%	36%
Disagree (2)	432	262	216
	21%	13%	10%
Disagree strongly (1)	169	104	66
	8%	5%	3%
NET: Agree	841	1226	1402
	40%	59%	67%
NET: Disagree	601	366	282
	29%	17%	13%
Don't know / Prefer not to say	649	499	407
	31%	24%	19%
Mean	2.63	2.92	3.17
Standard deviation	0.9	0.8	0.8
Standard error	0.02	0.02	0.02

Notes:

●      Methodology: Whitestone interviewed 2091 GB adults online between 4 and 5 June 2025, including 492 respondents with a disability.  Data were weighted to be representative of all adults. Whitestone is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

●      The Assisted Dying (Terminally Ill Adults) Bill, introduced by Kim Leadbeater MP, is expected to reach Third Reading on Friday 20 June 2025.

●      Full polling tables are available on request.