Most palliative docs in Scotland would refuse to participate in assisted suicides

The vast majority of palliative doctors in Scotland would refuse to take part in assisted suicides if the law changes, a survey of medics shows.

A study by the Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland found that 7 out of 10 of its Scottish members would object.

In addition, 4 in 10 doctors would immediately resign if their organisation offered 'assisted dying' and 7 in 10 would consider resigning.

The survey shows deep concern among end-of-life medics. 9 in 10 said assisted suicide would have a negative impact on palliative care.

Almost 8 in 10 respondents said assisted suicide would have a negative impact on their conversations with patients and families.

And almost 9 in 10 respondents said they do not believe proposed legal 'safeguards' would prevent harm to vulnerable patients.

58 doctors were surveyed on their views, out of an entire Scottish palliative workforce of 126 doctors (4 in 10).

Campaigners the Care Not Killing Alliance welcomed the results of the survey. CNK chief executive Dr Gordon Macdonald said:

"We have always warned legalising assisted suicide will sound the death knell for palliative care. Once assisted dying is.legalised, investment in palliative care always lags behind countries where it has not been legalised. Resources will be diverted to other areas. Now we see an additional danger that palliative care professionals will leave the profession.

Palliative care expert Dr Gillian Wright from Our Duty of Care (ODOC), a group of healthcare experts from multiple disciplines, commented:

“This survey shows the deep concern palliative doctors have should assisted suicide or euthanasia be introduced. They look after dying patients and their families every day in hospitals, hospices and at home. Introducing assisted dying will negatively impact vulnerable groups such as those with learning disabilities. The safeguards proposed will quickly be eroded as in other countries.

“The palliative care community has made a clear statement that assisted dying should not be embedded in healthcare. Doctors have expressed in this survey how it will damage the care they provide and adversely affect clinicians themselves, with significant impact on mental health and subsequent service provision. We urge MSPs to listen to their concerns.’"

CARE is urging Scottish politicians not to back fresh plans for doctor-assisted suicide in Scotland, citing fears about the impact on the vulnerable.

In an article for The Scotsman newspaper last year, CARE for Scotland Parliamentary Officer Michael Veitch said:

"Throughout the Covid pandemic the entire apparatus of the state has been focused on saving as many lives as possible, regardless of stage or condition of life. This is the principle that should continue to guide MSPs as they consider how best to preserve dignity and care at death.

"There is an inherent unseen cost to legalising assisted suicide in that the vulnerable majority who currently enjoy the absolute protection of the law will see it taken from them as the ability to kill oneself is actively validated as a reasonable and acceptable choice.

"The appropriate response is to improve our collective caring response, not to facilitate death expeditiously."