Reacting to MPs’ decision to prevent health professionals from raising assisted dying with children and young people under the age of 18, Nick Carroll, Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives said:
“I fully understand that MPs’ decision today, to ban health professionals from initiating conversations with under-18s about assisted dying, is an attempt to safeguard seriously ill children and young people. However, it is unlikely to prevent many seriously ill children and young people from having questions and concerns about assisted dying – and wishing to discuss them with professionals caring for them – if Parliament chooses to pass the Terminally Ill Adults Bill.”
“As a society, we cannot leave seriously ill young people, under the age of 18, isolated and alone without the support they need to manage the queries they will have.”
“Therefore, it is crucial that, even following this amendment, families, professionals and services providing palliative care to children and young people are given access to the skills, knowledge and guidance they will need. Many will still need to hold difficult conversations about the choices available at the end of a seriously ill young adult’s life, once they reach the age of 18, if assisted deaths become available.”
Together for Short Lives has worked with children’s palliative care services and professionals to develop a series of amendments that we would like parliamentarians to make to the bill. These are designed to provide safeguards to children and young people – and to give professionals and services the guidance and support they will need.