Should social workers have a safeguarding role in any future assisted dying process?
- Yes, this would help protect people against coercion (46%, 321 Votes)
- Perhaps, but I would worry about our capacity to take on this role (37%, 261 Votes)
- No, the existing safeguards in the assisted dying bill are sufficient (17%, 122 Votes)
Total Voters: 704
Loading ...Most social workers support the legalisation of assisted dying, a Community Care poll has found.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which was approved in principle by the House of Commons this week, would enable adults to receive assistance to end their lives.
Social workers back assisted dying
A Community Care poll, which received almost 1,300 votes, found that most respondents (64%) would support the bill, with 36% against.
Maharg, who works at a continuing healthcare service, said older people and cancer patients they have worked with have broached this subject, with four to six people having expressed interest in receiving support to die.
“The guidelines are clear, people have to fulfil the criteria and only they can promote their choice,” they added.
“So I agree with this being an option for those who want it.”
Court delays could hinder process
Stuart said: “We are a society predicated on the principle of autonomous choice, which is enshrined in medical ethics. The law supports these principles.
“To deny someone the choice when death is a greater attraction than life is a denial of these principles.”
However, patients would need to seek court approval to be eligible for assisted dying, which might mean that it would not be granted at an appropriate timeframe, said Carol.
Criteria for assisted dying
Under the bill, there are four criteria that must be met before a terminally ill person can be assisted to end their own life. The person must:
- have capacity “to make a decision to end their own life” (with capacity to be determined in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005);
- be aged 18 or over;
- be ordinarily resident in England and Wales, and have been ordinarily resident there for at least 12 months, and
- be registered as a patient with a GP practice in England or Wales.
“With judges involved and court delays, I can’t see anybody ever being granted this in an appropriate timeframe to ‘self administer’ anything,” she added.
“I find it fascinating that it is okay for health professionals to administer the four core drugs [morphine, midazolam, haloperidol, and an antimuscarinic] which hasten death when they consider it the ‘right time’, but individuals can’t choose themselves.”
‘We need to first expand palliative care to all’
Laura Morris criticised the bill, however, calling it “utterly irresponsible”.
“As social workers, we must first address the unmet needs of any individual who has a life-limiting condition by expanding palliative care to all,” she said.
“First it starts with the wealthy who can afford this legal process but then what? It’s a slippery slope. Why is there no palliative care for all? This country invented palliative care social work.”
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People who support state sanctioned suicide, for what “assisted dying” actually it is always based their arguments on the perfect scenario. It’s never the example of the person without family support living in poverty who has had limited contact with medical services and whose condition is deemed not to be compatible with a life of “quality”. Oh and the always unsaid prejudice that they are a “drain” on health and care budgets. Go talk to my mum who lives in a country where she is visited daily by qualified professionals at home, who has a weekly medical appointment at home if she chooses it, who has social support to enhance her daily living and whose pain management has never been determined by cost. She is the other side of the story. Somewhat ironic too given as social workers we are seen as pivotal in suicide prevention but there you go the usual kneejjerk trend chasing social work narrative that avoids nuance.
After a decade of bemoaning underfunding of the NHS, long waiting times for diagnosis and even longer waits for treatment or surgery, staff shortages and health rationing social workers suddenly decide that all is well and that decisions to end life, or more appropriately assisted suicide, are always going to be made with the full involvement of patients and their families and that there is absolutely no possibility that decisions will be made while people haven’t given informed consent to die. That ultimately two
doctors only one of whom will be seen by a judge is an adequate safeguard to mitigate against poor decision making. And if the person themselves is unable to meet the judge an “independent” person will sign the petition for the court to approve their death. Sounds familiar? The Mental Health Act does ensure that doctors make the right decisions in the best interest of the person they want to detain doesn’t it? AMHPs as the independent overseers always consult nearest relatives appropriately and have in depth conversations to obtain their agreement don’t they? AMHPs always have all of the information about the person they will approve for detention and have fully formed and the best picture of who they are, what they have experienced and always endure that if people object this is clearly documented and the person’s wishes are respected. Hollywood deaths with Hollywood sentiments and deaths in lovely rooms with flowers and music and family and friends joyously saying goodbye is not going to be the real life scenario. And social workers thinking they will play a big part in decisions made and will support families and ensure the person assisted with their suicide is treated decently and with dignity will find out they are an insignificant part of the process. But of course deep down social workers know that this Bill doesn’t ensure informed consent and doesn’t share the power to end life decisions with patients and families. Doctors can never say with certainty that a person in all circumstances only will have six months to die. Why do social workers think they may?
Let’s not forget that even if this is approved, people with the condition still get to choose whether to use it.
I believe the people who it affects most should have the right to choose. The issue for me is that unless we make end of life care free and of good quality, people who have worked hard to leave something for their family may choose to end their lives early for financial reason, which is unacceptable. I hope this is addressed under CHC changes as the bill progresses.