Dr Stephen Potts, Lead for the 网曝黑料 in Scotland on assisted dying/assisted suicide, comments on the recent vote in Holyrood on Liam McArthur’s Bill:
"The RCPsych in Scotland (RCPsychiS) is devolved within the 网曝黑料, and we have carried out an entirely separate process of surveying members to come to our position on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. This has taken place in parallel to the engagement of our colleagues in England and in Wales regarding the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill before Westminster.
"At present, the RCPsychiS takes a position of neutrality in relation to both the principles of assisted dying/assisted suicide and the Holyrood Bill. To arrive at this position in Scotland, we have undertaken extensive member engagement on the provisions of the Scottish Bill and have presented our evidence to policymakers accordingly.
"To date, our engagement with MSPs about the Bill for Scotland has centred on mental health considerations, safeguards against coercion, assessing capacity, the influence of physical illness on mental health, the interaction between the Bill and existing capacity/mental health legislation, and access to psychological support.
"Last week, we provided MSPs with a briefing ahead of Tuesday’s vote in Holyrood, welcoming a number of provisions now included in the Scottish? in line with the recommendations in both our written and to the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Sport and Social Care Committee. These include the role for psychiatry proposed in the Bill itself, as well as the central register for psychiatry proposed in the report. Our briefing also pointed to items of concern and omission, such as the potential for extension of eligibility and associated questions for people with anorexia nervosa and dementia.
"It is vital that the varying positions of our members across jurisdictions of the UK are clearly conveyed in relation to the two Bills currently proceeding through Holyrood and Westminster respectively."
For further information, please contact:
- Email: press@rcpsych.ac.uk
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