The push for state-sanctioned murder in Scotland has hit a fresh hurdle. The professional bodies for psychiatrists and pharmacists in Scotland have separately announced their opposition to Liam McArthur’s assisted suicide Bill.
During last Friday’s debate in Holyrood, both The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and The Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland (RCPsychiS) released statements opposing the Bill, citing the removal of conscience protections among other concerns.
The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill, would allow those deemed to be terminally ill with less than six months to live to get help from a medic to kill themselves. MSPs are set to vote for the final time on the legislation tomorrow.
The letter to MSPs from the RCPsychiS stated that by failing to protect conscience, MSPs have “drastically weakened essential safeguards for psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals”.
It continued: “As a result, the Bill now poses unacceptable risks to the general public and the psychiatric workforce, meaning that we have no option but to oppose the Bill.”
The College explained: “Without explicit legal backing, psychiatrists are concerned that they may face pressure from colleagues or employers, or be placed in professionally contentious situations without adequate safeguards. This raises risks both for practitioners and for patients.”