RCN Policy Shift on Assisted Suicide

Christian Nurses and Midwives regrets RCN policy shift on assisted suicide

The decision by the RCN to change its position from opposing assisted suicide for terminally ill patients to one of neutrality on 24 July 2009 is an unfortunate policy shift by the Royal College.

CNM Secretary Steve Fouch said, "While we welcome the consultation process, by the RCN's own admission only half its membership were reached, of those less than 1% responded, and less than half of those expressed a desire to shift policy either in favour or towards neutrality on this issue. Therefore, a quarter of one per cent of the membership expressed a desire to change policy. This seems a somewhat tenuous basis for realigning the College's stance. Overall there is scant evidence of a sea change among nurses to favour assisted suicide."

He continued, "CNM does not feel the profession should step back from actively opposing legal changes that would loosen safeguards for vulnerable patients, or change the role of the nurse to one which actively aids the death of a patient. This would fundamentally change the nature of the nurse/patient relationship and would be detrimental to the care of dying, disabled, and elderly patients. At a time when there is growing anxiety about how we will care for the elderly and severely disabled in the future, this policy shift sends the wrong signals to the vulnerable."