The Select Committee reviewing Lord Joffe’s Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill has now finished taking oral evidence and is expected to report to the House of Lords in the New Year when a decision will be taken about whether to take the proposed bill forward. The majority of committee members now appear to support the bill which will legalise Dutch style euthanasia in the UK. Whilst the GMC, RCN, BMA, Association of Palliative Care Specialists and CMF all opposed the bill the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) and the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) sat on the fence. The RCP gave evidence of behalf of the Academy of Royal Colleges so please write to your college and ask them to distance themselves from the RCP. Our own written submission is still available on the website homepage at www.cmf.org.uk and Professors Alan Johnson and Tim Maughan gave oral evidence to the committee on behalf of CMF wisdom will prevail and do also please take the opportunity to write to Select Committee members with your views – again details are available on the CMF website.
The Mental Capacity Bill, dealing with advance directives, proxy decision-making and research in individuals with learning disabilities passed its third reading in the House of Commons on 14 December. It next passes to the House of Lords. Many groups have worked hard to ensure that amendments are tabled which prevent this bill becoming a Trojan horse for euthanasia by omission.
The Human Genetics Commission (HGC) consultation Choosing the Future closed on 15 November and CMF’s submission is available on the website at www.cmf.org.uk/ submissions/future The consultation covers a wide range of issues ranging from screening of embryos and genetic research, to fertility treatments and the prospect of designer babies. More details are available on the Human Genetics Commission website at www.hgc.gov.uk.
John Wyatt
