Latest news from SPPC
Annual Conference - From System Holes to Whole Systems
Over 100 people attended the SPPC Annual Conference, hearing from a range of inspiring speakers and participating in a variety of breakout sessions.
The day explored the fact that as someone approaches the end of life they may need a range of supports – from health services, from social care services, from the welfare system, and from family, friends and their communities. The conference looked at how this complex web of supports can work more effectively as a system to improve people’s experiences of living with serious illness, dying and bereavement.
Presentation slides from the conference can be viewed on the SPPC Conference webpage, including a film of Cormac Russell’s presentation and a podcast sharing Donald Macaskill’s key reflections.
Assisted Dying Bill - latest update
Stage 2
The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill has now completed Stage 2, during which the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee (HSCSC) debated and voted on amendments.
All the transcripts and video of the four meetings of the committee can be viewed here.
You can see the Bill as it now reads following amendment here.
SPPC has worked in various ways to input into Stage 2 of the Bill:
- A short film about SPPC’s approach to amendments
- An explanation of SPPC’s approach and the intent of its suggested amendments
- The actual amendments lodged by Bob Doris which were considered by the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
- A summary of the outcomes of SPPC suggested amendments - those rejected and those supported by the HSCSC
- Listing of all the changes made to the bill at Stage 2
- A letter from Mark Hazelwood, CEO of SPPC to Liam McArthur MSP regarding the definition of coercion used in the Assisted Dying Bill.
- SPPC have co-signed a letter to Scottish Parliament requesting time for adequate scrutiny of the Bill between Stage 2 and Stage 3.
Stage 3
The Bill has entered Stage 3 at which there is a further opportunity for MSPs and Scottish Government to propose amendments. The amendments are voted on by the whole chamber and then the final version of the Bill is debated and voted on for a final time. The timelines for Stage 3 are not yet published, but there are some official indications that the final debate may be late February or early March 2026.
Letter to UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Following a vote of the HSCS Committee the Convenor has written a letter to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with a Disability seeking a view on the compatabiity of the Bill with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Revised estimates for costs of assisted dying – reflecting amendments at Stage 2
A revised financial memorandum can be viewed here: Revised Financial Memorandum reflecting amendments at Stage 2
Assisted Dying in England
The report of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill House of Lords Committee is now available. Read the report in full here.
Photo: Mogens Engelund
Summary of the Outcomes of SPPC Amendments to the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill
SPPC worked with Bob Doris MSP to submit over 40 amendments to the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.
Changes Proposed by SPPC/Bob Doris MSP and Agreed by the Committee
Reasons for Seeking an Assisted Death
The Coordinating Medical Practitioner (CMP) must as part of the assessment process “enquire about and discuss the person’s reasons for wishing to be lawfully provided with assistance to end their own life”. Strangely the Committee also voted against SPPC amendments requiring the reasons to be documented in the Statements which conclude the AD assessment (and sanction AD).
Social Work Assessment
The CMP must inform the person seeking AD that they can ask to be referred for a social work assessment, and inform them of the potential benefits of such an assessment.
Reducing the discretionary nature of referral for specialist opinion during assessment for AD
Where the CMP has any doubt about the capacity of a person seeking AD they MUST refer the person to a specialist. (previously the Bill said “MAY refer”).
Where the CMP has any doubt about whether the person seeking AD is “terminally ill” they MUST refer the person to a specialist. (previously the Bill said “MAY refer”).
Changes Proposed by SPPC/Bob Doris MSP and Rejected by the Committee
Definition of terminal illness
SPPC amendments to insert a 6-month prognosis into the definition were rejected.
Coercion
SPPC amendments to insert a definition of coercion into the Bill covering undue pressure or influence from: “the person’s own beliefs about themselves; any other person; the expectations of society; the health and social care system; the state.” were rejected.
Mandatory Referral to Specialist Palliative Care
Amendments to require anyone seeking AD to be referred for a specialist palliative care assessment were rejected. However, an amendment by Jackie Baillie MSP requiring the CMP to inform the person seeking AD that “that they can be referred for a palliative care assessment to explore whether any additional support could be provided to them” was agreed.
Reducing the discretion of the CMP in terms of what may be explained, discussed and advised during assessment
An amendment was rejected which would have required the CMP to explain and discuss the following (the Bill currently allows the CMP to explain and discuss these topics “in so far as the CMP considers appropriate”: the person’s diagnosis and prognosis; any treatment available and likely impact of it on the person’s terminal illness; any palliative or other care available; the nature of the substance that might be provided to assist the person to end their own life (including how it will bring about death).
A similar amendment would have required, without qualification, the CMP to advise the person to: inform their GP they are seeking AD; discuss the request with those close to the person.
Vulnerable Adults
SPPC amendments which would have required the CMP, as part of the assessment, to ask the relevant local authority whether they held any information which might indicate whether a person might have a preexisting vulnerability was rejected. Related amendments which would have mandated a referral for social work assessment if vulnerability was identified or suspected was rejected.
CMP Assessment Report
SPPC amendments requiring the CMP to produce a report detailing:
- The reasons the person gave for seeking AD
- What evidence was gathered and used to inform the decision
- The reasons the practitioner reached their judgement
were rejected.
Protracted Dying
SPPC amendments to require SG to make regulations about handling cases where death does not follow the taking of the lethal substance within a reasonable time frame were rejected.
Administration and regulation of assisted dying services
SPPC amendments requiring that SG produce regulations about the regulation and oversight of persons who carry out AD under the act, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the people provided with AD including: regulation of settings where AD may or may not take place; the role of HIS and the Care Inspectorate in regulation and scrutiny; and a process to raise concerns about the provision of AD to a person were all rejected.
Amendments to Assisted Dying Bill
SPPC is seeking changes to the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill by encouraging and supporting MSPs to submit relevant amendments and/or by supporting relevant amendments developed by other organisations.
The changes we hope to see reflect the points SPPC has previously raised with the Parliament in written and oral evidence.
SPPC’s suggested amendments focus on:
1. Strengthening safeguards for vulnerable people (as well as specific groups this means potentially anyone towards the end of life).
2. Protecting and promoting the practice and provision of palliative care.
In formulating possible changes SPPC’s primary concern has been the safety of individuals. The resource implications of particular amendments has not shaped SPPC’s approach to the Bill.
You can read more detail of SPPC’s suggested amendments in the documents below:
- An explanation of SPPC’s approach and the intent of its suggested amendments
- The actual amendments lodged by Bob Doris which will be considered by the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
SPPC Response to Public Health Scotland strategy consultation
SPPC has responded to Public Health Scotland’s consultation on its draft strategy for 2025-2035.
Key points
- The draft PHS strategy currently excludes a significant section of Scotland’s population - those whose health is deteriorating and in irreversible decline.
- This is particularly important given the context of Scotland’s aging population. Regardless of work on prevention, over the next 20 years increasing numbers of people will be living with serious illness and advanced multi-morbidity, and more people will be dying each year.
- Public health approaches can improve the wellbeing of these people.
Key recommendations
- Explicitly mention ‘wellbeing’ alongside ‘health’ within the strategy.
- Consider how a public health approach can improve the wellbeing of people who are seriously ill or dying.
- Be clear within the strategy that a public health approach incorporates efforts across the whole life course
- Adopt an “end of life” lens in PHS when gathering and analysing data to support more effective policy-making.
The full response can be viewed here: SPPC response to PHS Strategy Consultation
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