Amendment granting exemption for pharmacists in assisted dying bill welcomed

Company Chemists' Association has welcomed an amendment to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which is currently being considered by the parliament.

The amendment pertains to the exemption of pharmacists and registered pharmacy technicians from having to participate in the supply of an approved substance to a registered medical practitioner, which would then be provided to a person to end their own life.

"Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians should not be obligated to participate in any aspect of assisted dying if it is against their personal beliefs,” CCA chief executive Malcolm Harrison said.

The bill would legalise assisted dying in England and Wales for terminally ill adults under certain circumstances.

The legislation passed its first stage in the House of Commons last November with a majority of 330 to 275 votes, and is now at the report stage, where MPs are debating amendments to the bill.

Only two amendments could be passed last Friday (16), and a further debate on additional amendments is expected to take place on 13 June.

MPs will then be asked to vote on passing the amended bill in its entirety, which would push it through to the last stage of scrutiny in the House of Commons.

It would then need to pass all stages in the House of Lords before it becomes a law.

The legislation was moved by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater on 16 October 2024 as a private member's bill.

The bill was considered by a public bill committee over 29 sittings between 21 January 2025 and 25 March 2025.

The committee considered over 500 amendments, and approximately one-third were agreed upon.