Latest news from SPPC
BMA reaffirms opposition to assisted suicide: July 2009
Source: BMA Scotland press release, 1 July 09
Doctors have reaffirmed their opposition to assisted suicide following a debate at the BMA’s Annual Conference in Liverpool (Wednesday 1 July 2009).
Doctors rejected calls from Tameside doctor, Kailash Chand to change legislation to allow the choice of an assisted death by patients who are terminally ill and who have mental capacity.
Doctors also rejected calls to ensure that those accompanying the patient at an assisted death, but not actively participating, will not be subject to criminal prosecution.
Dr Brian Keighley, Deputy Chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said:
“It is clear that doctors do not wish to play a role in assisting a patient’s death. Assisting patients to die prematurely is not part of the moral ethos or the primary goal of medicine. If the legislation were to be changed, it would have serious negative consequences on the relationship between doctors and their patients.“It remains vital that access to the best quality palliative care is available in order to ensure that terminal suffering is properly managed.”Independent MSP Margo Macdonald has secured sufficient support to introduce the End of Life Choices Bill in the Scottish Parliament. The BMA remains opposed to the principles of this proposed legislation.
GMC consultation : End of life treatment and care: Good practice in decision-making
The General Medical Council is currently running a consultation on new draft guidance, End of life treatment and care: Good practice in decision-making. This will replace earlier guidance on Withdrawing and withholding treatment. The consultation runs from 27 March – 13 July 2009. Further information is available on the GMC website: www.gmc-uk.org/end_of_life_care
Syringe Driver Standard Documents
The Specialist Palliative Care Pharmacists Association has developed Syringe Driver Standard Documents for use across Scotland.
These are now available in our publications section.
Alzheimer Scotland publishes palliative care report: June 2009
Source: Alzheimer Scotland, June 2009
Winner of a Principles into Practice Award 2009, the Alzheimer Scotland Beyond Barriers Project set out to develop current care practice in care homes by supporting both staff and relatives to meet the palliative care needs of people in the later stages of dementia.
Beyond Barriers took an innovative approach, involving care home staff and relatives together in a training programme which put communication with the person with dementia at the core, and supporting staff to improve practice through action learning. A report summarising the impact and learning gained from the project is available at: http://www.alzscot.org/pages/beyond-barriers-palliative-care-report.htm
NHS Quality Improvement Scotland consultation on Draft Clinical Standards: Prevention and Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease
NHS QIS is currently running a consultation on these draft clinical standards. Standard 18 deals with palliative care. The consultation will run until 22 May 2009. For more information see the NHS QIS website: http://www.nhshealthquality.org/nhsqis/5389.html
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