As Ireland considers legalizing assisted suicide and euthanasia in the country, a leading group of physicians has spoken out against the practice of assisted death.
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) made an official statement in a presentation to the Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying. “RCPI opposes the introduction of legislation for assisted suicide because it is contrary to best medical practice. Our view is that the potential harms outweigh the arguments in favour of legislation for assisted suicide,” the group asserted.
Dr. Feargal Twomey spoke on behalf of the group. He cited the need for better palliative care instead of legalized assisted death, warning that legalizing assisted suicide would jeopardize the good work that has been done to increase the quality of healthcare for elderly and vulnerable populations.
“There have been major advances in promoting high-quality care at the end of life across a spectrum of healthcare provision in Ireland, in particular, through the provision of palliative care services and increased training in palliative care and palliative medicine across the professions,” he said. “Legislation for assisted suicide threatens to undermine these efforts, risking a shift away from funding, development and delivery of new and existing palliative care services and potentially reducing research in this area.”
Dr. Twomey also pointed to what has happened to other places that have legalized assisted dying, noting that in many instances the laws have continued to be loosened and safeguards eliminated.
Recent analysis of data from the Netherlands, Belgium and Colombia confirms a progressive broadening of the limits that have been initially established by law to the practice of assisted dying, both physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in these countries. This is also the case in Canada, where safeguards that had supposedly been in place have been systemically eroded over the past nine years.
In the Netherlands, there has been an extension of the eligible age groups, including newborn infants, as well as children of any age in Belgium.
A recent report analysing the Oregon Death with Dignity Act since its enactment confirms that eligibility criteria have expanded since that Act was instated. The 15-day waiting period has been waived and patients receive assisted suicide or euthanasia even if they have non-terminal illnesses, such as arthritis, complications from a fall, hernia, stenosis and anorexia.
The group also cited the danger to vulnerable populations, and the fact that fewer people were accessing assisted death because of incurable pain, despite that excuse being a primary motivator in the passage of assisted suicide laws.
The statement concluded, “When someone expresses a desire to die, we need to be sure we are exploring the nuance in the expressed desire to die and having a deep conversation that includes all of the options available. Many individuals requesting assisted suicide/euthanasia don’t want to die but to escape their suffering.”
According to The Christian Institute, the RCPI is a professional body of medical doctors. Numbering over 11,000 members, it is the largest postgraduate medical training body in Ireland.
