The report shows that assisted suicide laws are harming palliative care

A new report finds that legalizing assisted suicide has a detrimental impact on the provision of palliative care.

A study by bioethicist Professor David Albert Jones found “clear evidence” of harm to the quality and delivery of end-of-life care following the introduction of assisted suicide or euthanasia in other countries.

In 2022, the UK was ranked first in an international inquiry into ‘quality of death and dying’ conducted in 81 jurisdictions.

Danger

Earlier this year, the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee published the report of its inquiry into assisted dying/assisted suicide. However, based on his research, Professor Jones – director of the Anscombe Center for Bioethics in Oxford – questioned his statement regarding the provision of palliative care.

It would be extremely foolish to jeopardize what has been an international model of excellence by insufficiently considering the dangers of the proposed legislation.

He noted: “The House of Commons Select Committee found no evidence to support the concerns expressed by palliative care associations about changing the law. However, a more complete analysis, including more recent data, fully supports these concerns.

“What is often called “assisted dying” – that is, euthanasia or assisted suicide – can have a seriously adverse impact on what is truly assisted dying: palliative care.

“In the UK, where we pioneered the hospice movement, it is world-leading. It would be extremely foolish to jeopardize what has been an international model of excellence by insufficiently taking into account the dangers of the proposed legislation.”

Data

In his review, Professor Jones found that between 2012 and 2019, 20 Western European countries that did not use assisted suicide increased funding for end-of-life care by 25%.

Over the same period in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Switzerland – countries where assisted suicide is legal – funding increased by just 7.9%.

He also cited “growing evidence” that the removal of end-of-life safeguards is leading to “demoralization” of palliative care workers, with some even leaving the profession because of the pressure to facilitate assisted suicide.

Necessary evidence

Professor Jones told The Daily Telegraph: “Many MPs will learn about assisted dying by reading the latest select committee report.

“It is vital that these MPs recognize that some of the report’s conclusions were based on partial or outdated evidence.”

Supporting the study’s findings, palliative care consultant Dr Matthew Doré said: ‘This growing body of evidence appears to have been ignored in the committee’s conclusions.

“Jurisdictions where assisted dying is practiced consistently demonstrate slower progress in the development of palliative care and increasing challenges and harm to patients and professionals.”