Palliative care experts have urged Hospice UK to drop its ‘neutral’ stance on assisted suicide.
The charity, which represents more than 200 homes across the British Isles, recently said: “It’s not our role to either support or oppose a change in the law on assisted dying. Rather, our aim is to make sure the experience and expertise of our members inform this important national conversation.”
But in a letter to Hospice UK’s Chairman Paul Jennings, more than 30 specialists in palliative care – including two former presidents of the Association of Palliative Medicine (APM) – asked him to “stand with us against assisted dying”.
The signatories questioned the charity’s decision to invite Liam McArthur MSP, architect of Scotland’s assisted suicide Bill, to address its annual conference in Glasgow on 26 November.
The doctors argued: “At the time of a Westminster debate and vote on this very issue, this conveys a pro-assisted dying stance.”
“As a minimum,” they said, “we urge you to represent both sides of the debate at your conference.”