‘Death literacy and support’ urged as assisted dying debate continues

Government should commission research into understanding how to better provide mental health support and guidance for those living with a terminal diagnosis – that is the conclusion of the Health and Social Care Committee following its inquiry into assisted suicide and assisted dying.

The Committee also called for a national strategy for ‘death literacy and support’ from the moment a terminal diagnosis is given – but stopped short of recommending changes in the law on assisted dying.

Notably, the inquiry considered foreign jurisdictions where assisted suicide is already legal. Its report highlights several problems in those jurisdictions, including the impossibility of preventing abuse and misuse of such laws.

Concerns were also raised around the ‘slippery slope’. One professor told the inquiry that though previously being in favour of the Dutch legislation (he worked with the Dutch authority reviewing such cases), he became increasingly concerned about a ‘dramatic increase’ in the number of cases of assisted dying and assisted suicide in the jurisdiction (and about unreported cases).

There were also concerns about assisted death for the wrong reasons, for example, financial concerns, loneliness and being a ‘perceived burden on family’, which can prompt people to want to end their lives prematurely.

The Committee also heard about serious concerns around consent, such as whether it is possible to accurately assess capacity and safeguarding the person in every case.

Catherine Robinson from Right To Life UK said: ‘This report does a good job of bringing to light a number of the serious problems with assisted suicide legislation that are experienced in other jurisdictions where it is legal. It is particularly noteworthy that doctors who are dealing more directly with patients at the end of their lives are more opposed to making assisted suicide legal.’

Louise Davies of CARE said: ‘We believe that assisted suicide is not something that should be countenanced in any area of the UK. Evidence from other jurisdictions paints a troubling picture.

‘In Canada, for example, marginalised people feel forced to end their lives because they cannot access the services they need to live. And this has become accepted. Assisted suicide legislation in the UK would lead to the same profound injustices, and damage UK society as a whole.’

Davies commented that the cross-border effects of assisted suicide have not been considered. ‘We would ask how the safety of patients in one area, treated under very different ethical guidelines, could be maintained when they are able to relocate to another area and access assisted death,’ she said. ‘A law change in Scotland, for example, would create huge challenges for suicide prevention in England. Scotland may also see an influx of people, compounding pressure on its NHS.

‘There are very good reasons why no area of the UK has not legislated for assisted suicide. Safeguards always fail.’