Discussion If N was used in UK assisted dying, would it become easier to buy?

[BeanCurd]

Sorry in advance if this is a stupid question. If N was used when assisted dying becomes legal in the UK, would it hypothetically become easier to purchase there? From bent pharmacists, doctors etc.? I'm just curious.

 

[Captive_Mind515]

Not likely. Is it easier to get in Switzerland? Some places don't really have black market pharmacies.

 

[NoHorizon]

I very much doubt it. I would imagine it will come from a single, extremely tightly regulated and controlled, source. I can't see any scenario where pharmacists or doctors are able to distribute it.

 

[Cyc]

I don't think so, it'd be extremely controlled and the penalties for dealing it would probably be quite severe as well and not worth the risk imo

 

[BeanCurd]

Thanks all! This makes sense, I suspected it'd be the case.

I can't see any scenario where pharmacists or doctors are able to distribute it.

One of the things that made me wonder about it was reading this in Dignitas' written evidence to the Bill Committee:

NaP is a fast-acting barbiturate effective as a sedative and anaesthetic. It is dispensed by pharmacies on a prescription written specifically for the individual patient.

I guess I've heard stories of pharmacists and doctors running a, erm, side business. But I suppose N might be a bit more tightly controlled than painkillers and such lol.

 

[badatparties]

I very much doubt it. I would imagine it will come from a single, extremely tightly regulated and controlled, source. I can't see any scenario where pharmacists or doctors are able to distribute it.

I saw a video in Switzerland where the lady from Dignitas picked it up from the local pharmacy. The pharmacist took 15G of it out from a whole container full of pure powdered N. I might be tempted to do some B & E to get my hands on it if i lived there. It was a stand alone pharmacy on a corner.

Dignitas does one or two VADs a day, so they need access to it daily. Pharmacists can definitely distribute it.

 

[NoHorizon]

I saw a video in Switzerland where the lady from Dignitas picked it up from the local pharmacy. The pharmacist took 15G of it out from a whole container full of pure powdered N. I might be tempted to do some B & E to get my hands on it if i lived there. It was a stand alone pharmacy on a corner.

Dignitas does one or two VADs a day, so they need access to it daily. Pharmacists can definitely distribute it.

Oh, that's interesting. I'd have thought they'd keep the supply entirely in-house.

 

[badatparties]

Oh, that's interesting. I'd have thought they'd keep the supply entirely in-house.

No, only pharmacists can store, and dispense the drug based on a doctors prescription. Dignitas has a doctor that writes the prescription, but they aren't legally allowed to buy it in bulk from a manufacturer and store it in house.