The Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland (RCPsychiS) has moved to oppose the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill following the removal of Section 18 at Stage 3.
The College said that while it remains neutral on the principle of assisted dying, the removal of these provisions has “significantly weakened safeguards for psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals”.
Section 18 previously provided statutory protections for clinicians who chose not to participate in assisted dying, ensuring that their decision would not affect their employment, regulatory standing or professional relationships.
RCPsychiS said removing this section leaves those protections uncertain, as they may instead be addressed through future secondary legislation rather than being guaranteed in the Bill itself.
The College warns that removing Section 18 will reduce parliamentary scrutiny and could create uncertainty for clinicians about their professional rights and duties.
There are also concerns about the potential impact on workforce morale, recruitment and public safety at a time when mental health services across Scotland are already under severe pressure.
Throughout the Bill’s development, psychiatrists engaged with stakeholders at every stage, proposing a range of amendments to strengthen it.
However, the removal of key clauses at Stage 3 raises serious safety concerns for both the public and College members.
RCPsychiS says it will continue to provide clinical expertise to policymakers but cannot support the legislation in its current form - and is now calling on MSPs to consider these concerns ahead of the final vote.
View the full statement from RCPsychIS.