Wirral Hospice’s position on the Assisted Dying Bill

“The Private Member’s Bill on Assisted Dying is having its second reading in Parliament on Friday 11 September 2015. We realise that Wirral residents, the community we serve, will wish to know the Hospice’s view on the Bill, and as such we have prepared the following formal statement.”
Julie Gorry – Chief Executive, Wirral Hospice St John’s

The purpose of this statement is to clarify Wirral Hospice St John’s position on ‘assisted dying’ for those anticipated to be in the last months of life.

The term ‘assisted dying’ is often used to describe circumstances in which a person is either helped to end their own life [physician-assisted suicide], or where there is a deliberate act to end a person’s life [euthanasia].

Assisted dying is a complex subject which raises challenging ethical questions for hospice care. Wirral Hospice recognises the broad range of views across our society and respects the right of everyone to take an individual position.

We acknowledge the deeply personal reasons that exist for individuals who wish to consider assisted dying.

The mission of Wirral Hospice is grounded in its philosophy to ensure the best possible quality of life for those living with serious illness. The Hospice specialises in the alleviation of pain and other symptoms, and in the provision of emotional, psychological and spiritual support. We work alongside the NHS to provide the highest possible standards of palliative care for all who need it and cannot advocate the deliberate hastening of death.

Blog posted on behalf of Wirral Hospice St John’s by Teresa Nightingale