Reform Jewish leaders have said for the first time that they will offer pastoral care to people who choose assisted dying if it becomes legal in England.

The groundbreaking decision, unveiled by the Assembly of Reform Rabbis and Cantors on Tuesday, means the umbrella group will not campaign either in favour or against efforts to change the law on the issue.

Should the law be changed, however, the leaders said they would offer pastoral care to individuals who make a free-will choice to die. The families of those people would also be offered support.

The issue came to the fore this week when the British Medical Association dropped its opposition to assisted dying and took a neutral position in a landmark vote.

A private member’s bill that proposes legalising assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales is set to have its second reading in the House of Lords next month, with a similar bill lodged in Scotland in June.

Speaking to the JC, Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain stressed that Reform Judaism was not pressing for change or seeking to maintain the status quo, but getting ready for what would happen if the law changed.

He added: “I don’t think any other Jewish organisation has taken that stance.”

The assembly said its recommendation was “based on a regard for the preciousness of life balanced with the right to personal autonomy, along with the overriding Jewish principle of compassion.

“We would also encourage better palliative care for those in need, as well as better health literacy to enable individuals to understand the options facing them.”

The assembly’s statement was based on an earlier recommendation made by a rabbinic working group chaired by Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, consisting of Rabbis Shulamit Ambalu, Larry Becker, Laura Janner-Klausner, Josh Levy and Sylvia Rothschild. The working group was split evenly on either side of the issue, Mr Romain said.