Pharmacists should not be obligated to participate in assisted dying – RPS

RPS advocates for 'opt-in' approach for pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to participate in the assisted dying process

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has expressed a neutral stance on assisted dying, while emphasising the importance of certain safeguards in any proposed legislation.

In particular, they have urged the Bill Committee to include clauses addressing conscientious objection and criminal liability for health professionals involved.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which passed its second reading on 29 November 2024, would allow terminally ill adults to request assistance in ending their life, subject to safeguards and protections.

The RPS has submitted a written response to a House of Commons committee examining the Bill, urging consideration of several key points.

The RPS insisted that there should be “no obligation for any pharmacist to participate in any aspect of assisted dying if they feel this is against their personal beliefs.”

Instead, they proposed an "opt-in" model, allowing pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to choose to participate in aspects of assisted dying by completing the necessary training, rather than being required to "opt out."

“This would help avoid the need for anyone ethically opposed to assisted dying to signpost to another health professional, as this can also pose an ethical dilemma.”

“This opt-in model would also help identify where it may be more difficult to access health professionals who are willing to support assisted dying, such as in a specific care setting or in remote regions,” it explained.

The British Medical Association (BMA) and Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have also proposed a similar approach.

The society has also called for legal protections for pharmacy professionals involved in the process.

“Pharmacists and other healthcare professionals must be protected from prosecution should they choose to participate in the approved process for an assisted dying procedure,” it said in its submission to the Bill committee.

The Bill states that a coordinating doctor may be accompanied by other health professionals if deemed necessary.

However, the RPS argued that it does not specify the exact role of an accompanying health professional in the process.

Additionally, the RPS underscored the importance of national protocols and guidance to ensure consistent and best practices across all regions, and noted that the guidance should be developed in discussion with pharmacists from both primary and secondary care.

The RPS also recommended that patients contemplating assisted dying should be given the opportunity to discuss the alternative options available to them.

To maintain confidentiality while ensuring access to services, the RPS suggested that pharmacists who choose to participate in the scheme be listed on a secure database, accessible only to those healthcare professionals who have opted in.

On 19 November 2024, Fiona McIntyre, policy and practice lead at Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland, provided evidence to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee at The Scottish Parliament as part of its inquiry into the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.

Fiona made several key points, including the need for a clear description of pharmacists' roles in the assisted dying process.