Role of social work recognised in assisted dying legislation | BASW Reaction

Sponsor of the proposed legislation, Kim Leadbeater MP has announced this week that decisions about assisted dying should be made by an expert, multi-disciplinary panel, including social workers, following sign off from two independent doctors. Ms Leadbeater will table the amendment to her Bill, which will then be debated and voted upon by a group of MPs currently scrutinising the proposals.

A multi-disciplinary approach is a position that BASW has been advocating to MPs. Individuals considering assisted dying, and their families, need holistic advice and support. The multi-disciplinary panel also potentially provides the framework to resolve issues of mental capacity and adult safeguarding, both issues which sit with social workers. BASW has long argued these crucial areas should be more central to any legislation around assisted dying. 

While we welcome this development, we have also been clear with MPs that any new panel established along the lines that Ms Leadbeater is proposing will require more resources and investment to ensure that there are enough professionals to meet demand. Furthermore, with these new responsibilities, there will be a need for relevant professional registration, training, supervision and accreditation for ensuring that the professionals involved are appropriately qualified and supported to carry out this function. Legal protections, which at the moment only cover healthcare professionals in the Bill, must also be suitably extended to other professionals, including social workers. 

BASW has not made an ‘in principle’ decision on assisted dying but if the legislation passes, it is important that existing social work roles and responsibilities are considered. Good health care is not just about clinical interventions but can also be about social outcomes; taking into account the wider social context in which a person lives their life, including their wishes, values and relationships. This is particularly pertinent with assisted dying. We believe that a multi-disciplinary approach brings this more holistic and balanced approach.

BASW’s Head of Policy and Research, Luke Geoghegan spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live this week providing our reaction to this development and to outline the above points in more detail. Listen to Luke’s interview from 1:07:40 here.

BASW will be hosting a webinar on assisted dying and the implications for social work as part of World Social Work Week. Booking details will shortly be available here. You can also listen to Let’s Talk Social Work’s recent episode on assisted dying here.