Royal College of Physicians changes its neutral stance and opposes the assisted suicide bill
Kim Leadbeater’s euthanasia bill, officially known as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, will have its Third Reading in the House of Commons tomorrow.
On the eve of the vote, the Royal College of Physicians has stated it does not support the Bill. A group of leading social care organisations also raised serious concerns. These statements follow the withdrawal of support for the Bill by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
The “death by doctor” bill is becoming the “death by politician” bill.
Earlier today, The Standard reported that another leading medical body has raised concerns about the risks of the euthanasia Bill “failing to protect vulnerable patients,” on the eve of its return to Parliament. The Royal College of Physicians (“RCP”) said it believes there are “concerning deficiencies” with the proposed legislation as it stands.
The RCP said that despite changes to the Bill in recent months which supporters argue have strengthened it, the college believes “there currently remain deficiencies that would need addressing to achieve adequate protection of patients and professionals.”
Its statement follows one earlier this week from the Royal College of Psychiatrists (“RCPsych”), which said it has “serious concerns” and cannot support the Bill in its current form.
As Sky News noted, “The announcement from the Royal College of Psychiatrists is a blow to supporters of the bill because under an amendment, a psychiatrist would be on the expert panel to assess assisted dying cases.”
Today, a group of leading social care organisations also raised concerns over the proposed euthanasia bill, flagging worries about coercion. A partnership of the country’s leading social care and end-of-life organisations told Sky News of their deep frustration at being excluded from important discussions around the assisted dying debate, describing the proposed change to the law as “unworkable, unaffordable and naïve.”
Earlier this month, the Bishop of London said the government’s impact assessment of the assisted dying bill “makes for chilling reading.”
Bishop Sarah Mullaly said: “The impact assessment of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill makes for chilling reading as it highlights particular groups who would be put at risk by a change in the law, including those who are subject to health inequalities, and those vulnerable to domestic abuse.”
On the financial estimates, she said: “It is crude to see these cost savings set out in this way, and it is easy to see how numbers of this nature could contribute to someone feeling that they should pursue an assisted death rather than receive care.”
She reiterated the church’s resolve to oppose “any change in the law that puts the vulnerable at risk rather than working to improve access to desperately needed palliative care services.”
Keir Starmer, who has proved he is incapable of doing right by Britons since taking office, voted for the Bill last year and on the eve of its Third Reading has indicated he remains supportive of the euthanasia bill.
For its second reading, it was voted through by a reasonably narrow margin of 330 MPs in favour to 275 against. The Bill was passed with a majority of 55, meaning only 28 MPs need to change their minds or abstain from voting for it to fail.
Yesterday, The Telegraph reported that “As the Bill winds its way back to the Commons on 16 May – when all MPs will have the opportunity to propose and vote on further changes – there is a sense that it is on increasingly shaky ground. Critics have raised concerns that key safeguards have been removed from the legislation since the last time it was debated.”
A recent poll conducted by Whitestone Insight on behalf of the campaign group Care Not Killing suggested that more parliamentarians now oppose the Bill than support it, The Telegraph said.
Don’t leave it up to chance; contact your MP tonight and let them know you want them to vote against Death Leadbeater’s euthanasia bill.
