AS/AD is the process where someone takes prescribed medication to end their own life, with the help of others. This often occurs when the individual is suffering from a serious terminal illness. While legal in some countries, AS/AD is currently not legal within the UK.
Currently, in England and Wales it is an offence for a person to act in a way which is ‘capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide or attempted suicide of another person,’ and to act in a way which was ‘intended to encourage or assist suicide or an attempt at suicide.’ Assisting a suicide in Scotland is not a specific offence, however, people who are suspected of doing so could potentially be prosecuted for more general offences.
As this is a devolved matter, some of the Crown Dependencies and home nations are currently in the process of legislating to legalise AS/AD.
Kim Leadbetter MP is bringing forward a significant bill in the House of Commons, which could see the legalisation of AS/AD in some circumstances in England. Liam McArthur MSP has introduced a Member’s Bill to allow terminally ill adults in Scotland, who are eligible, to lawfully request, and be provided with, assistance by health professionals to end their own life. Proposals are also being considered in the Isle of Man and Jersey.
While the PDA has remained neutral and does not take a position on whether AS/AD should be legalised, it is calling on lawmakers in all UK jurisdictions to include a conscience clause for pharmacists.
This clause would mean that, if the bill is passed into law, pharmacists would not be under any obligation to participate in any aspect of an AS/AD process.
Pharmacists, as healthcare workers, have a specific role in that they are custodians of and responsible for the safe supply of potent licensed medications. This obligation is to ensure that the medicines they supply are both appropriate and as required by the prescriber. UK case law has confirmed the obligation of pharmacists to professionally assess every prescription prior to it being dispensed for appropriateness. In context, this would mean the role of the pharmacist goes beyond merely supplying substances as may be specified on an AS/AD prescription. These medicines would be used as unlicensed ‘off-label’ substances for the purpose of ending life and any pharmacist choosing to supply these substances would know the end result of such a supply.
The PDA has previously contributed to multiple consultations and inquiries on AS/AD to ensure that pharmacists and other healthcare professionals would be able to choose to participate, but not be forced to do so.
PDA members who would like to share their views on this topic can email the PDA Policy Team at policy@the-pda.org.
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