Swann Seeks to Amend Assisted Dying Bill to Exclude Northern Ireland from 'Medical Product' Change 

Robin Swann MP has raised concerns about the inclusion of Northern Ireland in the assisted dying bill. The Bill would change the definition of a ‘medical product’ to allow for assisted dying including Northern Ireland despite the fact the Bill does not apply to Northern Ireland.

The Terminally Ill Adults Bill would allow government ministers to change the definition of the term ‘medical product’ to allow for the inclusion of the substances used in assisted dying, rather than solely products used to improve human health. This change in definition would apply across the UK – including Northern Ireland and Scotland despite the fact this legislation will not allow for assisted dying itself in Northern Ireland or Scotland.

Mr Swann has submitted an amendment to the Bill which opposes the extension of this definition which would allow the substances which could be used for assisted dying to be prepared in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Mr Swann said:

“This Bill will not allow for assisted dying in Northern Ireland, so it should not change our definition of a medical product to accommodate a law which only applies in England and Wales.

“The application of those provisions to Northern Ireland and Scotland has implications for conscience protection. If, as a result of regulations made under those provisions, pharmacists in Northern Ireland could be required to be involved in the manufacture or preparation of those substances, they will not have the benefit of the conscience clause as that clause is limited to England and Wales. How can this be right?

“There is a further issue in Northern Ireland, we are still in part subject to EU law. I would be very interested to know whether the government has considered this aspect in that regard. Can the Minister really change EU law in Northern Ireland by ministerial fiat and if so, why is he not being granted such a power in other areas of significance to Northern Ireland? Why only this? Or why was so much Government time previously spent working on medicine regulation and supply for Northern Ireland, and why did Edward Argar MP, when he was the Minister of State for Health, and I needed to meet so often?”