Pharmacists will be able to choose not to participate in assisted dying in Scotland

Pharmacists in Scotland can choose whether they participate in the assisted dying process following an amendment to the proposed law.

An amendment to the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill will allow pharmacists to choose whether they participate in the process or not.

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Introduced by Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, at Stage 2 and voted through by MSPs – the change makes it clear that an approved substance must only be supplied by a registered pharmacist to a doctor or nurse.

It also states that pharmacists may be able to help a doctor or nurse during the assisted death, although the pharmacist would be able to decide not to attend if they did not wish to.

If the Bill passes, ‘robust guidance’ will be required to describe the role of pharmacists in any assisted death, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has said. It ‘stands ready’ to develop this guidance in collaboration with the Scottish government and other relevant bodies.

The RPS holds a neutral position on assisted dying, but it believes that ‘all pharmacists should have the right to take part or not take part in the process’ depending on their own conscience.

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It has provided written and oral evidence to MSPs to ensure that the ‘key amendment’ was tabled and passed.

RPS director for Scotland, Laura Wilson, said: ‘We are very pleased that following our representation to MSPs, the amendment which describes the role of pharmacists in supplying the substance has been inserted into the legislation. I would like to thank Brian Whittle MSP for tabling this important amendment.

‘This is a key safeguard, which accurately reflects the role of the pharmacist whilst at the same time providing the pharmacist with the opportunity to choose to supply the substance, or not.’

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She reiterated the need for greater clarify about the role of any pharmacist who chooses to attend an assisted death, should the Bill pass, and said it was important that this role reflects pharmacists’ expertise while also being appropriate to their professional scope.

This news follows a similar amendment to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in May which specifically exempted pharmacists from participating in supplying medication for assisted dying, if that is what they choose to do.