Assisted dying, defined by the BMJ as “prescribing life ending drugs for terminally ill, mentally competent adults to administer themselves after meeting strict legal safeguards“, is currently illegal in the UK. We will continue to work within the framework of current laws and according to best practice in palliative care.
Dorothy House maintains a neutral position on this sensitive issue because we believe that best allows us to serve every individual who might need us within our communities.
However, with the 2024 Health and Social Care Select Committee’s (H&SCSC) report on Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide and devolved governments’ private members’ bills calling for a legal change, we are watching the debate and listening to the diverse views of our staff, volunteers and community with interest.
As a provider of compassionate end of life care, the following statements articulate the Dorothy House position on assisted dying:
1. As a champion of the “What Matters To You” Charter, Dorothy House supports patient choice and access to care within the boundaries of the law, adapting our position as the legal context changes over time.
2. We believe in access to Specialist Palliative care for everyone. With increasing demand this is not possible within the current funding and delivery model for these services. These services should be appropriately funded, and changes made to the system that delivers them, to ensure real choice for all regardless of whether there are changes to laws around Assisted Dying.
3. At Dorothy House we have a vision of a society where death is a part of life. The H&SCSC committee supports this view and expressed the need to open up conversations about assisted dying with health and social care staff and improve death literacy within communities.
4. Internally, the Hospice will continue debating the issue through informed and sensitive engagement, respecting the right of individuals to hold their own opinions.
Appendix – Community View 2024
As part of listening to our community an online methodology was utilised across Dorothy House’s catchment area (targeted via postcode area). The sample consisted of a broadly demographically representative (in terms of age and gender) cross-section of adults aged 18+. The online survey was completed between 22nd January 2024 to 1st February 2024, gathering 401 responses.
Among other questions we asked:
Do you think the law should be changed to allow assisted dying for someone suffering from a terminal illness?
Over two thirds of the sample believed that the laws on assisted dying should be changed (69%). This was particularly the case for the youngest age group (18-24, 75%) and those aged over 55 (76%). The age groups in between were less in favour, with 60% agreeing the law should be changed.
https://www.dorothyhouse.org.uk
It is encouraging to see a hospice taking part in the assisted dying debate, especially since there is now a very safe, humane Bill for terminally ill adults, being voted on by MPs on 29th November.
Crucially, the Association for Palliative Medicine need to take note and start to put patients at the centre of their care instead of preserving a dogmatic ideology, as 70 % of palliative care consultants in the BMA survey in 2021 want to do.
With such a funding crisis in the hospice sector, this ruling order can only have itself to blame for the reduction in donations from a public that wants change.
Pauline Carroll, Retired District Nurse
Dear Sir/Madame,
Because Dorothy House is not opposing the Assisted Dying Bill , I will no longer financial support Dorothy House. Furthermore at every opportunity I let people know that Dorothy House has done nothing to oppose the Assisted Dying Bill and it’s best to withdraw all contact with your organisation.
I hope Dorothy House changes it’s position to opposing the Assisted Dying Bill.
Yours sincerely
Ann Joyce