Chamber and committees

It seems that 13.47 per cent of GPs responded to the survey that was conducted by the Royal College of General Practitioners. Is that quite a low number? Was it a UK-wide survey?

I acknowledge that 47 per cent of respondents were against the proposal and 40 per cent were for it but, given that legislation is being taken forward in the Isle of Man, Jersey and England, and that people know more about what is happening in Australia, Canada, Oregon, California and other places that have taken forward such legislation, might it be time to conduct another survey?

Thanks.

Okay. I will go on to my theme of conscientious objection.

Okay—thanks, convener.

I have been a nurse for more than 30 years. I am interested in issues of conscientious objection. Is there enough clarity as to which staff and activities are covered by the conscientious objection provision in the bill?

I remind everybody that I am still a registered nurse. My background is in perioperative care.

Colin Poolman mentioned conscientious objection, so I will put this question to him to begin with. Is there enough clarity as to which staff and activities would be covered by the conscientious objection section in the bill, which comprises only two subsections? What are your thoughts on that?

As the convener mentioned, registered nurses are part of multidisciplinary teams. Carers and carers at home can be part of those teams, too. A patient might reach the point at which they wanted to start talking about ending their life. How should we amend the bill in order to protect other members of multidisciplinary teams?

Okay. Would that include pharmacy staff? I saw Fiona McIntyre nodding.

Would you prefer further provisions in the bill to protect professionals if the bill progresses and becomes an act?

Before I come to my question about conscientious objection, I ask Rami Okasha what he meant when he said that there is a definition in the bill that would open it up more widely. Is that the definition of terminal illness?