GPs 'conflicted' over whether assisted dying should be offered in Ireland
The committee of TDs and Senators has spent the last few months hearing from advocates and experts from a range of fields on the issue of assisted dying legislation.
The majority of GPs are “conflicted” over whether assisted dying should be offered in Ireland, an Oireachtas committee will hear on Tuesday.
Addressing the Assisted Dying Committee on the topic of safeguarding medical professionals, the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) will say it has engaged with members to try to identify their perspectives on the important issue.
As part of that engagement, the ICGP commissioned polling company Red C to undertake a survey of the views of its members on assisted dying.
The report identified that most “would not like to get personally involved”, there is “more passive acceptance than support or rejection, and most (GPs) want the opportunity to discuss this with their peers and ultimately with their patients”.
The committee of TDs and Senators has spent the last few months hearing from advocates and experts from a range of fields on the issue of assisted dying legislation which is currently being considered by the Oireachtas.
Earlier this month, the committee heard that “substandard end of life care” in Ireland at present meant that assisted dying proposals were “concerning”. The committee is already over half way through of its hearings on the topic.
Last week, a posthumous video from a man who died from motor neurone disease, who supported the introduction of assisted dying, was played at the committee.
As for the ICGP, it will cite its Red C report on members’ views at the committee today, which showed that GPs recognise that assisted dying is a societal issue, warranting public and professional discussions.
“GPs value informed professional discussion and clinical education ‘to help our patients’,” the ICGP said in a statement. “While some GPs ‘are vehemently opposed, and others strongly in support of assisted dying, the majority are conflicted, in the provision or support of such a service’.” The group said it had identified key safeguards for patients and medical professionals, should legislation be introduced in Ireland.
This includes safeguarding vulnerable people, recognising and protecting conscientious objection, comprehensive and robust governance and safeguarding palliative care services.
As well as the ICGP, the committee will today hear from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and academics based in Canada and Scotland.
This evening, it will hear from speakers based in New Zealand and Australia on the topic.
