Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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I will speak to the ICGP and the INMO. I remember having a conversation with my uncle, who happens to be a priest. We discussed the best way to die. He said it does not matter what road people take; death is never easy.

The ICGP has laid out a roadmap and outlined the engagement it has had with its members. Its representatives have laid out the various forums it has held and the questionnaires and surveys that have taken place. The ICGP did not survey a large number of people. Out of 4,500 members, 100 people have engaged in the survey. There has been minimal engagement with GPs. What steps can be taken to ensure palliative care provisions are not negatively impacted if assisted suicide is legislated for? I do not think we should assume that any future assisted suicide services would be GP led. I am not aware of any studies that have been undertaken in Ireland to ascertain what proportion of GPs would be willing to provide this service should it be legislated for. Will the witnesses comment on that?

I do not know why I did not receive the INMO presentation, but I wish to ask whether it has conducted surveys in the organisation on this issue. What were the figures? Nurses and midwives are very much the first point of contact for patients making requests about assisted suicide. How will they be trained to deal with clinical situations that could be difficult or are not possible to overcome? There can be significant difficulties with existing prognoses for illnesses. In terms of predicting how long somebody might live, whether it is weeks, months or years, in many cases it is impossible to give advice on that.

I refer to the risks of coercion, given the suboptimal availability of social work supports. Another issue is identifying suicidal patients presenting with a request for assisted suicide without acknowledging feeling suicidal. I see what is happening in Canada at the moment. A slippery slope started in 2016 and it is now an issue for people with mental health difficulties. I would appreciate it if the witnesses could address these questions.