British Medical Association: assisted dying is not health care.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

An article published in the UK Spectator on March 10 reports that the British Medical Association consultants voted that assisted dying is not a health activity and, if legalized, they demand an opt-in model for providers. The Spectator reported:

Motion 46 was proposed by the South Regional consultants committee and argued that Kim Leadbeater’s bill raises ‘serious potential moral hazards for consultants, and serious potential adverse impacts on health services.’ The two-part motion argues that, when discussing assisted dying with the government, the BMA must be clear that if the bill were to become law:

An opt-in model is adopted for providers, and no consultant shall be expected to be involved in any part of the assisted dying process, including having no obligation to either suggest assisted dying to patients, nor refer patients for it.

The second part of the motion contends too that:

Assisted dying is not a health activity and it must not take place in NHS or other health facilities, and assisted dying providers must be employed under separate contractual arrangements.

Both parts of the motion were passed by the BMA consultants conference. So, there we have it: senior NHS Consultants believe the Leadbeater Bill presents both ‘serious moral hazards to consultants’ and could have ‘serious potential adverse impacts’ on health services in the UK.

The government panel that is deciding on amendments to Kim Leadbeater's assisted suicide bill have so far rejected every proposed amendment that would tighten up the language of the bill.

A large number of MP's who supported Leadbeater's assisted dying bill at Second Reading indicated that the final version of the bill would determine how they vote at Third and final reading on the bill.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition ia urging British Members of Parliament to defeat the Leadbeater Assisted Dying bill at third reading.