By Denise Platt, member of the Commission on Assisted Dying and former chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection
The Commission on Assisted Dying began its work last November and aims to examine whether it is possible to devise, in law, a safeguarded process for assisted dying that facilitates those people who wish to be assisted to die, while at the same time safeguarding those people living in vulnerable circumstances who might come under pressure to agree to such an act. The commission aims to produce an authoritative piece of work focusing on the current approach to assisted dying and making recommendations as to what, if any, changes should be implemented.
Social care workers help and support many people who are living with a terminal illness. Just as they have been used to exercising control over many things in their life, a number of these people sincerely want to have some control over their death and the right to seek an assisted death if the circumstances become more than they can bear.
Equally, there are many who are fearful, for themselves and for others, that any provision in law that formally permitted assisted death will put pressure on certain groups of people to be obliged to seek such an end. As one witness put it: "An opportunity may become an obligation." While legislation might only apply to people who are terminally ill, many believe that this would become a slippery slope. Witnesses tell us that society has such a poor view of the quality of life of disabled or older people that they and their families would come under considerable, albeit subtle, pressure to conform.
Some consider that if there was a legal framework that allowed assisted death, there would be no incentive to develop and improve palliative and other care services. People can become despairing and vulnerable when care services are poor, infrequent or badly co-ordinated and driven to 'seek a way out'. Resources might be diverted to implementing the framework not improving the service.
These are the complex ethical issues which the commission is debating. Social care workers have a unique insight into the daily lived experience of many older, ill or disabled people, which is why the commission will take evidence from health and social care professionals on 23 February, including from BASW - The College of Social Work and a frontline practitioner, Suzy Croft.
It may be that having heard all the evidence and learning from international experience it is not possible to devise a practical safeguarded process. But if it is possible, it is inconceivable that social workers as part of a multi-disciplinary team will not have a role to play to safeguard people's rights. That is why it is important for social care professionals to debate and contribute fully to this discussion.
So please submit your evidence by our deadline of 2 May, 2011.
The Commission on Assisted Dying began its work last November and aims to examine whether it is possible to devise, in law, a safeguarded process for assisted dying that facilitates those people who wish to be assisted to die, while at the same time safeguarding those people living in vulnerable circumstances who might come under pressure to agree to such an act. The commission aims to produce an authoritative piece of work focusing on the current approach to assisted dying and making recommendations as to what, if any, changes should be implemented.
Social care workers help and support many people who are living with a terminal illness. Just as they have been used to exercising control over many things in their life, a number of these people sincerely want to have some control over their death and the right to seek an assisted death if the circumstances become more than they can bear.
Equally, there are many who are fearful, for themselves and for others, that any provision in law that formally permitted assisted death will put pressure on certain groups of people to be obliged to seek such an end. As one witness put it: "An opportunity may become an obligation." While legislation might only apply to people who are terminally ill, many believe that this would become a slippery slope. Witnesses tell us that society has such a poor view of the quality of life of disabled or older people that they and their families would come under considerable, albeit subtle, pressure to conform.
Some consider that if there was a legal framework that allowed assisted death, there would be no incentive to develop and improve palliative and other care services. People can become despairing and vulnerable when care services are poor, infrequent or badly co-ordinated and driven to 'seek a way out'. Resources might be diverted to implementing the framework not improving the service.
These are the complex ethical issues which the commission is debating. Social care workers have a unique insight into the daily lived experience of many older, ill or disabled people, which is why the commission will take evidence from health and social care professionals on 23 February, including from BASW - The College of Social Work and a frontline practitioner, Suzy Croft.
It may be that having heard all the evidence and learning from international experience it is not possible to devise a practical safeguarded process. But if it is possible, it is inconceivable that social workers as part of a multi-disciplinary team will not have a role to play to safeguard people's rights. That is why it is important for social care professionals to debate and contribute fully to this discussion.
So please submit your evidence by our deadline of 2 May, 2011.
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