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The UK’s chief pharmaceutical officers (ChPOs) have said it is “entirely reasonable” for pharmacists and technicians to share their opinions publicly on an assisted dying bill due to be debated in Parliament.
In a joint statement published on 20 November 2024, they also warned pharmacists and pharmacy technicians on what to avoid if partaking in the House of Commons debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill — a private members’ bill on assisted dying — tabled to be debated on 29 November 2024.
The statement was signed by Andrew Evans, Alison Strath, Cathy Harrison, David Webb, the ChPOs of Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England, respectively; Elizabeth Fidler, senior professional adviser for pharmacy technician practice at NHS England; and Richard Cattle, deputy ChPO for England.
They described the subject as a “complex societal decision” which “has to be a decision for society as a whole, expressed through Parliament”.
“In our view, it is entirely reasonable for any pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to give their opinions, and that the public would expect that.”
However, they advised pharmacists to avoid identifying individuals they have cared for without their consent, directly engaging patients in debate, or implying that an individual pharmacist or technician speaks for the profession rather than expressing their personal views.
They also said the outcome must not undermine provision of good end-of-life care for all and the work done by palliative care clinicians, and that pharmacists should be able to exercise freedom of conscience.
Kim Leadbeater, Labour MP for Spen Valley, formally presented the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill to Parliament on 16 October 2024.
In the same month, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) published its policy statement on assisted dying, urging that any proposed legislation include clauses on criminal liability and conscientious objection.
“There must be no obligation for any pharmacist to participate in any aspect of assisted dying if they feel this is against their personal beliefs,” it said.
“There must be explicit protection in place in any legislation for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other healthcare professionals to be protected from prosecution when participating in the approved process for an assisted dying procedure.”
A Bill on assisted dying is also proceeding through the Scottish parliamentary process. On 19 November 2024, Fiona McIntyre, policy and practice lead for RPS Scotland, provided evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee inquiry into the Bill.
She told the committee that the ability of pharmacists to express their right to conscientiously object was of vital importance and that any part of the process should be covered by the requirement to opt-in.
“The RPS has a neutral position on the principle of assisted dying; however, is actively engaged in the Bill development process to ensure the role of pharmacists is clearly understood and that appropriate safeguards are in place should the draft Bill progress to legislation,” she said.
“As drafted, the Bill is unclear what the precise role of pharmacists in the assisted dying process is. I hope that after today’s evidence session the Bill can be strengthened so this is more clearly defined for the benefit of the pharmacy workforce and the patients they care for.”
RPS Scotland has previously said it wants to ensure that pharmacists are not compelled to support the assisted dying process if they have moral, ethical or religious objections to it.
In August 2024, Community Pharmacy Scotland published its response to the Bill, in which it said it “partially” supports it.
Meanwhile, the Pharmacists’ Defence Association expressed its views on pharmacists’ choice to be involved in assisted dying in response to a Health and Social Care Select Committee’s inquiry into assisted dying in 2023.
In its response in January 2023, the Pharmacists’ Defence Association said that its focus would be on “the implications… on healthcare workers including pharmacists, and their rights to follow their conscience” should legislation be introduced into the UK.
