‘Assisted dying’ is a hot topic at the moment. Holyrood faces a debate on a Bill to change Scotland’s law from Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur. At Westminster, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater is taking forward another proposal. As a psychiatrist with a special interest in the impact of physical illness on peoples’ personal lives and mental health, I’m particularly concerned about the debate.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked to help people struggling with the impact of serious illness who may feel overwhelmed, unsupported, or suicidal. My profession has had a united approach on this. We seek to alleviate suffering while protecting the vulnerable and suicidal. ‘Assisted dying’ – which in McArthur’s Bill means physician-assisted suicide – would cause a radical shift in practice.