Member

We are considering a virtual assessment scheme without proper face-to-face consultation. What discussions about this scheme have been held, and with whom? What does it actually mean? Surely, remote assessment undermines protection from coercion, which is often very subtle and carefully crafted. The abuser could be sitting in that very room—but not visible—listening to the conversation. Coercion is very difficult to detect at the best of times. Serious mistakes have been made in the past. No panel should be called upon to grant the stamp of approval to someone availing themselves of assisted suicide without seeing that person. If assessing capacity remotely is impossible for professional psychiatrists, what makes it okay for these panels?