BASW secures assurances for protections for social workers in assisted dying bill

Since the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was introduced, BASW has been lobbying MPs to ensure that social workers receive the same level of adequate legal protections in the legislation as healthcare professionals.

Legal protections provided in the Bill, the so-called ‘conscience clause’, allows professionals to opt-out of work relating to assisted dying without detriment. However, the Bill as introduced failed to include social workers in this clause, creating disparity with other professions such as doctors and nurses.

With social work now expecting to be involved in the review panels for considering assisted dying requests, the need for this legal protection to be extended for social workers has become ever more paramount.

Last week, Danny Kruger MP raised this point on BASW’s behalf in parliament, quoting directly from our evidence and, in doing so receiving an assurance from the lead sponsor of the Bill, Kim Leadbeater MP that the provision would be extended accordingly. Ms Leadbeater said:

“I would like to get it on the record that I agree with him: there should be no duty on any person to take part in the Bill’s provisions if they choose not to, for whatever reason. I will struggle to support his amendment because there are other issues with it, but on that principle I wholeheartedly agree, and I would be happy to work with him in sorting it out, before Report, to that effect.”

The full exchange can be read here. You can also watch a clip on our Facebook page here.

BASW will now await the wording of this amendment and will keep making our case to MPs for social work’s inclusion in the conscience clause. We will also continue to proactively engage with MPs on this legislation at every turn, ensuring that the social work profession is being represented and heard throughout the legislative process.