- Conference
- 2009 Retired Members' Conference
- Date
- 23 June 2009
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
This Conference recognises the fact that recently a number of cases regarding assisted suicide have had a high profile in the UK media, and it is now time that a serious debate on this extremely sensitive subject be brought into the public arena.
The tragic circumstances that both a patient and their loved ones face during a prolonged intolerable end of life experience can no longer be ignored. This issue must now be faced to avoid the distressing consequences of not allowing an individual the right to choose their own dignified end of life.
Conference must continue to support campaigns for improvements in debilitating illness research, and as a result of recent events, it is now more important than ever to campaign for change in the law to allow the choice of dignity in death without the legal consequences that an individual and their loved ones may have to face.
Conference is in no doubt that such a campaign must include all the legal and clinical checks and balances.
The reason for opening this debate arises from our experience and understanding as former active trade union members we sought to ensure dignity and choice in our personal and working lives, so it should be in our choice to end our life if it becomes physically and mentally intolerable.
Conference therefore instructs the National Retired Members’ Committee to campaign for physician assisted suicide which includes legislation to protect the choice of patients and loved ones.