Assisted dying bill debate: Things pharmacy professionals should consider

Pharmacy professionals are advised to avoid directly engaging patients in the assisted dying bill debate

As the assisted dying bill moves through Parliament, pharmacy professionals are encouraged to take part in the public debate.

The UK chief pharmaceutical officers (CPhOs) – Andrew Evans (Wales), Alison Strath (Scotland), Cathy Harrison (Northern Ireland), David Webb (England) – have issued advice for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians wishing to give their opinions on this important topic.

“In our view it is entirely reasonable for any pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to give their opinions, and that the public would expect that,” they said in a statement released along with Elizabeth Fidler, senior professional advisor for pharmacy technician practice at NHS England, and Richard Cattell, deputy chief pharmaceutical officer for England.

However, pharmacy professionals are advised to avoid identifying individuals they have cared for unless with their consent and directly engaging patients in the debate.

The guideline also emphasised that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians should express their personal views, and not speak for the professions.

The CPhOs noted that the final decision on assisted dying must be made by society as a whole, through the parliamentary.

Despite the diverse views on the issue, the CPhOs believe the pharmacy professionals are united on two things:

• that we must not undermine the provision of good end-of-life care for all including the outstanding work done by palliative care clinicians
• that individual pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, and other healthcare professionals, should be able to exercise freedom of conscience

“This will, we are sure, be common ground for all sides involved in this complex societal decision,” they said.

An assisted dying for terminally ill adults bill is also proceeding through the Scottish parliamentary process.

Fiona McIntyre, policy and practice lead at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland, recently presented evidence to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee at the Scottish Parliament as part of its inquiry into the bill.

In her testimony, McIntyre highlighted that pharmacists and other healthcare professionals should have the ability to express their right to conscientiously object to any assisted death.

Fiona also stressed the importance of ensuring that any part of the assisted dying process, such as preparation or supply of the substance, which requires the input of a healthcare professional, should be covered by the requirement to opt-in.

A House of Commons debate on a Private Members' Bill on assisted dying is scheduled for Friday, 29 November.