Pharmacists and psychiatrists reject assisted suicide Bill

The professional bodies for psychiatrists and pharmacists in Scotland have separately announced their opposition to Liam McArthur’s assisted suicide Bill.

During last Friday’s debate in Holyrood, both The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and The Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland (RCPsychiS) released statements opposing the Bill, citing the removal of conscience protections among other concerns.

The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill, would allow those deemed to be terminally ill with less than six months to live to get help from a medic to kill themselves. MSPs are set to vote for the final time on the legislation tomorrow.

Psychiatrists

The letter to MSPs from the RCPsychiS stated that by failing to protect conscience, MSPs have “drastically weakened essential safeguards for psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals”.

It continued: “As a result, the Bill now poses unacceptable risks to the general public and the psychiatric workforce, meaning that we have no option but to oppose the Bill.”

The College explained: “Without explicit legal backing, psychiatrists are concerned that they may face pressure from colleagues or employers, or be placed in professionally contentious situations without adequate safeguards. This raises risks both for practitioners and for patients.”

the Bill now poses unacceptable risks to the general public and the psychiatric workforce

It concluded: “we must be unequivocal: we oppose the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill as it currently stands. We are calling on MSPs to consider our serious concerns”.

Pharmacists

The RPS announced that it is “neutral on the principle of assisted dying, but not on the process”.

It called the lack of conscience protections “inadequate and inappropriate”, and raised concerns that there is still “uncertainty around the role of pharmacists in the assisted dying process” despite amendments being put forward to attempt to address this.

The RPS explained: “In our view, this is confusing to patients, carers, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals.”

It stated: “Given our serious concerns, Royal Pharmaceutical Society is opposed to the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.”

Threat to disabled

A survey commissioned by campaign group Not Dead Yet UK found that 69 per cent of adults in Scotland think access to care for disabled people should be improved before Holyrood introduces assisted suicide, and 66 percent agreed that some disabled people could seek an assisted suicide due to feeling like a burden on family, friends or society.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson said: “The lives of disabled people are under threat from McArthur’s assisted suicide Bill and this polling shows the majority of the public know that.”

She added: “The state should be offering support for such people and those who feel they cannot cope with their circumstances, not offering them assistance in ending their lives.”

Tressa Burke, founder of the Glasgow Disability Alliance, and previously a supporter of assisted suicide, commented: “Having now worked with disabled people for 30 years, I am terrified at the thought of it.”