Holyrood urged to avoid ‘ethical disaster’ of assisted suicide for dementia patients

Liam McArthur MSP’s assisted suicide Bill endangers those suffering from dementia, an expert on the condition has warned.

Writing in The Scotsman, Professor June Andrews OBE said that although the Bill would not directly legalise assisted suicide for mental conditions, dementia meets its definition of an “advanced and progressive disease” that is expected to cause “premature death”.

Under McArthur’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, end-of-life protections would be removed to allow those deemed to be terminally ill to seek help from a doctor to kill themselves.

No safeguards

Professor Andrews warned that it would be “impossible to uphold” any safeguards for dementia patients, as the law could be expanded on discrimination grounds.

what makes you think that you can draft something for Scotland that will avoid the ethical disasters that have unfolded in countries that have already got this?

She highlighted the case of a woman in the Netherlands who asked to be euthanised if she developed dementia, but had to be restrained during the process because in her ‘confused state of mind’ she wanted to live.

The professor stated: “The dangers are clear when you consider the practical and ethical problems of applying a law that permits you to end someone’s life, especially if the people involved have dementia, or are afraid of the condition.”

She added: “I’d issue a challenge to MSPs: what makes you think that you can draft something for Scotland that will avoid the ethical disasters that have unfolded in countries that have already got this?”

Serious doubts

Last week, it was revealed that more than four in ten Brits who support assisted suicide have serious doubts about its safety.

The poll of 2,001 British adults by Whitestone Insight, on behalf of think-tank Living & Dying Well, showed that 42 per cent of those in favour of changing the law admitted there are “too many complicating factors to make it a practical and safe option”.

The House of Lords is expected to debate Lord Falconer of Thoroton’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill in the coming months, which aims to allow assisted suicide for those deemed to have less than six months to live.

The Prime Minister has said he is more determined than ever to grant MPs time to consider axing end-of-life protections, so the Bill could be favoured if it reaches the House of Commons.