The head of a charity representing more than 200 hospices has warned that staff and volunteers may resign if the assisted dying bill becomes law. Toby Porter, chief executive of Hospice UK, said the legislation could cause workers who disagree with it to leave an already under-resourced sector.
Porter told The Independent that there is a major risk of workers saying, 'I can't hack this, this is too controversial, I'm gonna go off and work somewhere else.' He added that staff would not make final decisions until there is more clarity on what the legislation would mean for hospices.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, introduced in October 2024, would allow adults expected to die within six months to opt for an assisted death. The bill is currently before the Lords, where more than 1,000 amendments have been tabled. Labour MP Kim Leadbetter accused peers of attempting to 'sabotage' the bill, while campaigners like Dame Esther Rantzen accused them of 'filibustering'.
Porter said the law change would require huge investments in talking to staff, patients and volunteers, as it cuts across wellbeing, religious, ethical and political beliefs. He also questioned how assisted dying could jeopardise hospices' reputation and public donations, noting that hospices currently enjoy uncontroversial status in communities.
The charity boss also raised financial concerns, saying that if hospices have to spend more management time on assisted dying, it could pull away from other work, despite a commitment that the introduction of assisted dying would not impact existing palliative care services.
Campaign groups remain divided. Dignity in Dying argues that a blanket ban on choice at the end of life is dangerous and must change, while Care not Killing says a law change would put pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives. James Sanderson, chief executive of Sue Ryder, said the bill accelerates the need for reform in palliative care, where issues of inequality and increased demand must be addressed.
