Member

My Amendment 222 takes note of the fact that there is a long waiting list to get psychological therapies when you are distressed in some way and you need help to sort out relationships or life circumstances. The decision to request an assisted death is taken at a time of profound vulnerability, often shaped by physical suffering but also often impacted by fear and anxiety. Offering timely access to specialist psychological assessment and support would give people the space, expertise and stability necessary to make decisions free from mental distress or coercion, as well as identifying treatable conditions such as depression that can interfere with capacitous decision-making and yet can be difficult to recognise. I am also suggesting that offering bereavement support to families and carers before an assisted death would help prepare them for the emotional impact of assisted dying and ensure that their family member’s decision was understood, respected and ultimately not clouded by unspoken fears or unresolved conflict.