Outsourcing assisted suicide to private companies has been condemned as “a nightmare waiting to happen” and warned it could become a “lucrative money-making enterprise”.
The stark warning came as The Times revealed that Ministers have “no in-principle objection” to offering assisted suicide contracts to private firms to ease pressure on the NHS, if the Leadbeater Bill becomes law.
The Times reports that a model similar to that found in dentistry, whereby both NHS patients and private patients would be offered treatment in clinics, is being considered.
The Times report sparked immediate concern amongst critics since private companies could make significant amounts of money from offering the procedure. Kevin Yuill, Interim Director of Humanists Against Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia (HAASE), said “Opening the door to profiteering from suicide is a nightmare waiting to happen”.
“Introducing profit into the already thorny issue of ‘assisted dying’ throws up a number of important and uncomfortable questions. Will private healthcare providers like Serco, Capita or Virgin Care be involved? Will providers be paid per body? How much will they be paid?”, he added.
Danny Kruger MP, one of the most prominent voices against the proposed legislation, underlined the dangers of offering assisted suicide contracts to private companies during public scrutiny of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. Kruger said “The opportunity is there in the Bill for private businesses to be established to deliver assisted dying services. Indeed, it would be quite a lucrative money-making enterprise”.
Estimating there would be “between 5,000 and 17,000 assisted deaths per year”, Kruger proposed if the charges employed by Dignitas are used a cost “in the region of £5,000 to £10,000 per patient.”
He commented “Even a small proportion of that would be significant – a multimillion-pound business would be possible under the Bill”, adding that advertising for the service would also be possible.