Don’t rush through assisted dying service, urges Whitty

Nursing leaders have admitted patients could choose a proposed new assisted dying service because of inadequate palliative care.

- KATE DEVLIN

Professor Nicola Ranger described it as “possible” in evidence to MPs as she warned access to good end-of-life care is not “as good as it needs to be” for everyone. She also warned training for nursing staff would be key as they would have to be “very vigilant around anyone feeling that they’re a burden” and opting for assisted dying.

Her comments came as England’s chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty warned ministers not to rush a proposed assisted dying service through – as he cautioned against any “firm deadline”. Asked about the prospect of implementing the policy within two years, he told MPs: “I would prefer this was not running against a timeline”, saying “this is something best not done at speed if we can avoid it.” A firm deadline risked making it “much harder to provide a safe, fair and secure service”, he warned.

Campaigners have claimed the proposed law is being rushed through at the expense of elderly and disabled people. Yesterday, Ellen Clifford, coordinator of the UK Deaf and Disabled People’s Monitoring Coalition, warned: “Something of this magnitude has to go at a much slower pace.”