MSPs express concerns over financial estimates for Scotland’s assisted dying bill, highlighting potential underestimations and societal impacts.
Edinburgh: MSPs are raising alarms about the financial plans for the Assisted Dying Bill. They sent a letter to the Scottish Parliament’s health committee, pointing out “underestimates” in the bill’s financial impact and possible societal changes.
The finance committee is worried that initial demand and costs could be much higher than expected. They believe public awareness around assisted dying will increase due to ongoing debates in Scotland and the UK.
The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, introduced by LibDem MSP Liam McArthur, aims to allow terminally ill adults to request assistance from health professionals to end their lives legally.
A Stage 1 debate on this legislation is coming up soon. Last year, MPs in Westminster supported a similar proposal for England and Wales.
The finance committee’s letter states they don’t take a stance on the bill’s policy. They focus on examining the financial memorandum (FM) to ensure it accurately estimates costs and savings related to the bill.
They found gaps in the information provided, including underestimations of direct financial impacts and broader societal changes. The committee’s role is to scrutinize these financial aspects.
They concluded that the FM is not comprehensive enough. The letter also mentions a lack of information on potential savings from the bill.
Concerns were raised about the choice of jurisdictions used for comparison. The bill’s proposals are broader than laws in many examined places.
The FM estimates the number of terminally ill adults in Scotland who might seek assistance. It uses data from Oregon in the USA and Victoria in Australia for its projections.
However, some submissions suggest that Canada might be a better comparison. The letter indicates that the FM assumes only about 25 assisted deaths in the first years, which MSPs believe is too low.
Stakeholders suggest that, based on Canadian experiences, Scotland could see 170-180 deaths in the first year, increasing to 780-790 by year three, and 1330-1350 by year five.
MSPs also worry about a “postcode lottery,” where patients in some areas may struggle to find willing medical professionals. This could require additional funding.
The letter highlights other potential costs that need more clarity. It mentions underestimations related to clinical time, staffing, and legal processes involved in assisted dying.
Stakeholders also pointed out costs for setting up places of death and protocols for complications, as well as support for professionals involved.
