Humza Yousaf is right to voice concerns about ‘assisted dying’ proposals before Holyrood and should vote against them “for the sake of vulnerable patients, people with disabilities, and others who stand to be harmed”, an open letter to the Health Secretary says.
The letter, organised by the Better Way campaign and signed by doctors, disability campaigners, anti-euthanasia organisations and religious groups, warns that “there can be no ultimate safeguard against coercion and abuse, or extension of this legislation to include other groups of people”.
It cautions that ‘assisted dying’ will “inevitably lead to increasingly adverse judgements about the quality of life of disabled people”, saying: “Troubling evidence from Canada confirms that discrimination and inequality have been further entrenched since the law changed in 2016”.
And it stresses that doctors, especially those working in palliative care, “believe legalising the practice would seriously undermine patient safety and diminish the quality of care available”, adding that Mr Yousaf should continue to be led by such people who are “experts in navigating suffering at the end-of-life”.
The letter concludes: “Upholding existing laws is the only effective guard against abuses and a radical extension of the ‘assisted dying’ framework down the line. For the sake of vulnerable patients, people with disabilities, and others who stand to be harmed, we urge you and your colleagues to strongly oppose the Assisted Dying Bill in the coming months.”
In an interview with the BBC at the weekend, Mr Yousaf indicated that he is “not persuaded” by proposals lodged by Liam McArthur MSP to allow terminal patients to ingest lethal drugs in medical settings in Scotland. He stated:
“We are waiting to see some of the detail and debate some of the detail in parliament, but my own personal view is that I am not persuaded by the proposals, particularly because I am not sure that we have stringent safeguards in place.”
A full copy of the letter is included below.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
For media inquiries contact Jamie Gillies | jgillies78@gmail.com
Open letter to Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
Dear Mr Yousaf,
We the undersigned welcome your comments at the weekend concerning Liam McArthur MSP’s proposed Assisted Dying Bill. The question of safeguards is incredibly important. In our view, there can be no ultimate safeguard against coercion and abuse, or extension of this legislation to include other groups of people. The tragic experience of other jurisdictions puts this beyond doubt.
We are also concerned that legalising ‘assisted dying’ will inevitably lead to increasingly adverse judgements about the quality of life of disabled people. This will undoubtedly begin to affect disabled people who cannot speak for themselves and who have not requested death. Troubling evidence from Canada confirms that discrimination and inequality have been further entrenched since the law changed in 2016.”
It is notable that your stance as Health Secretary is one shared by your counterparts in the UK Government and in Jersey; Sajid Javid MP and Deputy Richard Renouf. The views of both Ministers have been informed by doctors – especially those working in palliative care – who believe legalising the practice would seriously undermine patient safety and diminish the quality of care available. We hope your own views will continue to be led by such people, who are experts in navigating suffering at the end-of-life.
There are many, serious concerns about the proposals currently before Holyrood. ‘Safeguards’ on paper will do little in practice. In other jurisdictions, they have been dispensed with over time as pressure has mounted for eligibility to be expanded. Upholding existing laws is the only effective guard against abuses and a radical extension of the ‘assisted dying’ framework down the line.
For the sake of vulnerable patients, people with disabilities, and others who stand to be harmed, we urge you and your colleagues to strongly oppose the Assisted Dying Bill in the coming months.
Sincerely,
Dr Miro Griffiths, academic, disability adviser and spokesman, Better Way campaign
Phil Friend, spokesman, Not Dead Yet UK
Gordon MacDonald, CEO, Care Not Killing Alliance
Gillian Wright MD, Our Duty of Care
Dr Calum MacKellar, Medical Bioethicist, Edinburgh
Dr Muhammad Adrees, Convenor, Muslim Council of Scotland
David Miller, Moderator, United Free Church of Scotland
Stephen Allison, Public Engagement Coordinator, Free Church of Scotland
Bishop Hugh Gilbert, Bishop of Aberdeen
Anthony Horan, Director, Roman Catholic Parliamentary Office
Prof David Galloway, past president, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
Prof Johann de Bono, Regius Professor of Cancer Research Professor of Experimental Cancer Medicine & Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology
Kirsteen Cowling, Children’s Hospice nurse, CHAS (Children’s Hospices across Scotland)
Dr Jenny Bryden, Consultant in Rehabilitation Psychiatry, Aberdeen and Lothian
Dr Jennifer Horan, Locum Consultant Psychiatrist, Forth Valley
Dr Andy Bathgate, Consultant Physician, Lothian
Dr Lorraine Bell, GP, Lanarkshire
Dr Sarah Beverstock, Junior doctor, Lothian
Dr David Craig, GP, West of Scotland
Dr George Craig, GP Principal, Edinburgh
Dr Edward Tulloch, GP trainee, Lothian
Dr Allan Green, Consultant Radiologist, Edinburgh
Dr Peter Kiehlmann, retired GP, Dundee
Dr Jennifer Macdonald, GP, Glasgow
Dr Laura Macdonald, Breast Surgery Specialty Doctor, Glasgow
Mr James McEwan, Paramedic Student, Glasgow
Dr Fiona Macfarlane, Junior doctor, Lothian
Dr Eilidh Mackenzie, GP trainee Glasgow
Dr Gabriella Marchitelli, Junior doctor, Lothian
Dr Christopher Marshall, Junior doctor, Lothian
Dr Katie McEwan Junior doctor, Glasgow
Mr Riaz Mohammed, retired Consultant Surgeon and Medical Adviser, Glasgow
Dr Precious Osadolor, GP, Glasgow
Dr Ruth Pole, GP, Forth Valley
Dr Robert Proudlove, retired GP, Orkney
Dr Alexander Rollings, Junior doctor, Lothian
Dr Christine Smith, retired GP, Stranraer
Dr Johannes Spoor, Internal Medicine trainee year 3, Glasgow
Dr Rhoda Kelso, GP, Glasgow
Dr Rhona Stevens, retired Consultant Radiologist, Glasgow
Dr Rosemary Tierney, GP, Glasgow