All four UK CPhOs, NHS England’s (NHSE) senior pharmacy technician professional advisor and England’s deputy CPhO have written to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians warning them not to “directly” debate with patients about assisted dying.
In a letter sent today (November 20), they said that they were “aware many pharmacy professionals have strong, informed opinions on [the] important topic” as assisted dying bills proceed through parliament in England and Scotland.
“Some pharmacists and pharmacy technicians may be unsure whether they can take part publicly in this debate,” they added.
Read more: Assisted dying bill reveals pharmacy tech role and opt-out clause
“In our view it is entirely reasonable for any pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to give their opinions and that the public would expect that,” they said.
But they warned that “there are some obvious things that should be avoided”, including “directly engaging patients in debate”.
The officials also told pharmacists and pharmacy technicians not to identify individuals who they have cared for “unless with their consent” or imply that they “speak for the professions rather than expressing their personal view”.
“This has to be a decision for society as a whole, expressed through parliament,” they stressed.
“Clear” role for pharmacists
Meanwhile, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) yesterday (November 19) said that the precise role for pharmacists in the Scottish assisted dying bill is “unclear” and must be “clearly defined”.
Policy and practice lead at RPS Scotland Fiona McIntyre “provided evidence to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee at the Scottish parliament as part of its inquiry into the assisted dying for terminally ill adults (Scotland) bill”, it said.
McIntyre’s points included that “while pharmacists are specified in the bill, the precise role for pharmacists is unclear and this should be clearly described”, according to the RPS.
Read more: Opinion: Assisted dying, and the importance of protecting conscience
“There should be clear expectations and a consistent process particularly around responsibility for the substance used to support an assisted death at all stages,” it added.
“Last month, the RPS wrote to the MP who has brought forward the bill to reiterate our position that any proposed legislation must include clauses on criminal liability and conscientious objection,” it said.
Hotly debated
Last week, England’s proposed assisted dying bill set out that pharmacy technicians could play a role in the process if the law is passed.
Any “health professional” including a registered pharmacist, pharmacy technician, nurse or medical practitioner could play a role in assisted dying, according to the new bill to be debated in parliament – although this role remains unclear.
Read more: C+D Snap Poll: 74% of pharmacists in favour of assisted dying
It does, however, state that these healthcare professionals would be under “no obligation to provide assistance”.
MPs are set to debate the highly controversial bill – which aims to “allow adults who are terminally ill, subject to safeguards and protections, to request and be provided with assistance to end their own life” – for the first time next week (November 29).
Read more: The assisted dying debate
Meanwhile, a C+D snap poll in August revealed that 74% of pharmacists were in favour of legalising assisted dying in some capacity.
And Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) said in the same month that it “partially supports” the Scottish parliament’s proposal to legalise assisted dying.
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