Palliative care doctors have collectively raised the alarm over assisted suicide

The Assisted Dying Bill faces strong opposition from the palliative care community, with fears that inadequate services may push vulnerable patients towards premature death. Experts urge the need for improved palliative care over legalising assisted suicide, highlighting serious ethical implications and potential harms.

Assisted suicide: pushback from palliative care professionals

During recent discussions surrounding Kim Leadbeater’s Assisted Dying Bill, significant concern has emerged from the palliative care community about the potential negative impact on end-of-life care provisions in the UK.

The oral evidence sessions held over three days have revealed a strong opposition among palliative care workers, raising alarms about the implications this Bill could have on the quality and accessibility of NHS palliative care.

Glyn Berry, Co-Chair of the Association of Palliative Care Social Workers, highlighted some critical issues that undermine the argument for assisted suicide.

While presenting evidence before the Committee, she pointed out that the inequitable provision of palliative care can lead to individuals feeling compelled to choose assisted suicide due to prevailing inadequacies.

Berry’s insights laid bare the risks associated with the introduction of assisted suicide laws, correlating inadequate palliative care with a potential increase in requests for premature death. She stated that factors such as housing instability and financial insecurity contribute to the impression that assisted suicide is the only option available to some patients.

Berry expressed further concern regarding the capacity of doctors to fully understand the complex social and familial dynamics of patients. She called for the inclusion of palliative care representatives in discussions related to assisted suicide decisions, underscoring the potential for coercion and misinformed consent in cases where patients might feel pressured by their circumstances.

An inadequate system

Supporting Berry’s stance, Professor Nicola Ranger, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing, acknowledged to MP Danny Kruger that there is a possibility that requests for assisted suicide may stem from inadequate palliative care.

Dr Rachel Clarke, a fellow palliative care doctor, reinforced this notion by asserting that the shortcomings of the current palliative care framework may lead patients to believe they possess no alternatives other than assisted suicide.

Dr Sarah Cox, President of the Association for Palliative Medicine, further substantiated the opposition to assisted suicide within the medical community, reporting that around 80% of her members are against the Bill. She pointed out that regions which have refrained from adopting assisted suicide laws have experienced thrice the improvement in their palliative care services compared to those that have legalised it.

Evidence was also presented indicating that the implementation of assisted suicide laws has impeded advancements in palliative care services in various jurisdictions.

The discussion took a particularly stark turn when international comparisons were introduced.

Alex Greenwich, the MP for Sydney, Australia, was provided with insights by Danny Kruger regarding the state of palliative care in his region. Contrary to Greenwich’s claims that legalising euthanasia led to improvements in service, data revealed that New South Wales faced significant budget cuts to palliative care shortly after the legalisation, diverting resources towards its assisted suicide programme.

Assisted suicide is not the answer

As the Parliamentary session progressed, concerns were raised about the trajectory of the Bill. Observers noted that attention to the testimony of palliative care experts was lacking, as evidenced by Kit Malthouse MP’s apparent disinterest while scrolling through his phone during discussions.

Such conduct has been interpreted by critics as indicative of a broader trend among proponents of the Bill to disregard the voices advocating for substantial improvements in palliative care.

A notable issue remains regarding the timing of the proposed legislation. The Palliative and End of Life Care Commission has yet to report its findings, with a crucial vote on the Bill looming.

The decision to fast-track the Bill is seen by some as problematic, raising questions about the motivations behind the legislative process and the potential ramifications for the future of palliative care in the UK.

Currently, it is estimated that approximately 100,000 out of the 550,000 individuals who pass away annually in Britain do so without receiving the sufficient palliative care they require.

Critics argue that rather than veering towards a framework that prioritises assisted suicide, energy and resources should be directed towards enhancing the standards and availability of palliative care services.

Featured image via the Canary