Letter to the Editor

If you are a health care professional in the UK, you can add your name below the letter

Dear Editor

We are GPs disappointed by the Royal College of General Practitioners’ (RCGP) move from opposition to “neither supporting nor opposing assisted dying being legal,” following a member survey.

This is despite a rise in the proportion saying the RCGP should remain opposed (47.6%, up from 46%) and a decline in support for law change (33.7%, down from 41.1%). 

Even those who favour assisted dying in principle may not in practice, in the context of today’s pressured NHS, and may be unwilling to be personally involved in assisting deaths. The latest survey did not explore GPs’ views unlike the more detailed 2019 RCGP survey which found only 7% of GPs thought they should prescribe lethal drugs, and only 16% felt GPs should take responsibility for confirming eligibility for assisted dying. It is likely that similar practical opposition persists.

We believe assisted dying undermines public understanding of and access to palliative care, puts vulnerable populations at risk of self-coercion or abuse, and drives societal biases that devalue certain lives. We find assisted suicide incompatible with our values as doctors: to promote and preserve life, and to be worthy of our patients’ trust. We will not be involved in its provision and remain committed to easing suffering at the end of life through proactive, compassionate and holistic palliative care. We regret the RCGP’s stance and find it grossly misrepresentative of GPs’ attitudes to assisted dying.

  1. Dr Rachel Fisher, MRCGP DipPallMed, West Midlands
  2. Professor Dr Janet Lefroy FRCGP
  3. Professor John Campbell MBE FRCGP
  4. Professor Chris Harrison, FRCGP, Manchester
  5. Dr Susan Bowie FRCGP
  6. Dr Simon Carroll FRCGP
  7. Dr Ronald Douglas FRCGP
  8. Dr Tom Jones FRCGP
  9. Dr Michael Wilderspin FRCGP;
  10. Dr Gregory Gardner GP, West Midlands
  11. Dr Katie Newbold, GP, West Midlands
  12. Dr Elizabeth Poppleton, GP, Oswaldtwistle
  13. Dr Sam Boam, GP, North Yorkshire
  14. Dr Asia Katunda, GP, West Midlands
  15. Dr Caroline Lapworth, GP, Yorkshire
  16. Dr. Almas Rehman, GP, London
  1. Dr Oluwatobi Adeagbo, GP registrar, Scotland
  2. Dr Talat Ahmed, GP Partner, London
  3. Dr Faran Akbar, GP, Manchester
  4. Dr Taiwo Akinseye, GP, London
  5. Dr Hugh Alberti, GP
  6. Dr Anwara Ali MBE, GP Principal and Partner, London
  7. Dr Janice Allister, Retired GP, Scotland
  8. Dr Sadia Amin, GP
  9. Dr Mary Anne Barbara Gompels, Retired GP, Wiltshire
  10. Dr Ijeoma Anozie, GP, London
  11. Dr Jennifer Argile, GP, North Yorkshire
  12. Dr Alison Arnott, GP, London
  13. Dr Cathy Ayers, GP
  14. Dr Mary Backhouse, GP, South West England
  15. Dr Susan Bailey, Retired GP, Gloucester
  16. Dr Fiona Baker, GP, Yorkshire
  17. Dr Rupert Bankart, GP
  18. Dr Grace Barden, GP, West Sussex
  19. Dr Claire Barnes, GP, Morecambe Bay 
  20. Dr Ben Basterfield, GP
  21. Dr Aasia Batool Imam, GP, Essex
  22. Dr Richard Baxter, GP
  23. Dr Sarah Beaumont, GP registrar, Cornwall
  24. Dr Naomi Beer, GP
  25. Dr Lorraine Bell, GP , Lanarkshire
  26. Dr Rebecca Bendor-Samuel, GP registrar
  27. Dr Helen Biggs, GP
  28. Dr Tim Billington, GP
  29. Dr Stella Frances Bird, GP, Bromley
  30. Dr WGM Boddeke, GP
  31. Dr Grainne Bonnar, GP, Belfast
  32. Dr Adel Boparai, GP registrar
  33. Dr Nat Bradbrook, GP, Bolton
  34. Dr Lesley Braddock, GP
  35. Dr Ros Bramhall, GP, Gateshead
  36. Dr Gill Breese, Retired GP, North Wales
  37. Dr Ruth Britten, GP
  38. Dr Alison Brown, GP, Scottish Borders
  39. Dr Rebecca Brown, GP, North East of England
  40. Dr Warren Brownlee, GP, Glasgow
  41. Dr Paul Buckingham, Retired GP, Corby
  42. Dr Carole Buckley, Retired GP
  43. Dr Laura Buckley, GP
  44. Dr Farah Burki, GP
  45. Dr Alison Burr, GP
  46. Dr Matthew Burridge, GP, London
  47. Dr Jo Byfleet, GP
  48. Dr Naeema Cabdi, GP, West Midlands
  49. Dr Jessica Carter, GP, Manfield
  50. Dr Katie Carter, GP
  51. Dr Alexander Cary, GP, Yorkshire
  52. Dr Michael Casey, GP, London
  53. Dr Christopher Chadwick, GP, West Midlands
  54. Dr Emily Chadwick, GP registrar, West Midlands
  55. Dr Hannah Chadwick, GP
  56. Dr Hannah Chapman, GP, Lanarkshire
  57. Janet Charnley, retired GP, Stockport
  58. Dr Jill Christy, GP
  59. Dr  Katharine Claire Simms, Ballymena, Northern Ireland
  60. Dr Gillian Clark, GP
  61. Dr Sue Clasper, GP, Newcastle
  62. Dr Michael Claydon, GP
  63. Dr Fiona Cockburn, GP
  64. Dr Katherine Cole, GP
  65. Dr Heather Cole, Kendal, Cumbria 
  66. Dr Mark Coley, GP, Stockport.
  67. Dr Denis Colligan, GP, Manchester
  68. Dr Philippa Cook, Retired GP, Fife
  69. Dr Steve Cottam, GP, South Lakes
  70. Dr Elizabeth Cox, GP/ oncologist, Cambridge
  71. Dr Emma Criddle, GP, Manchester
  72. Dr Johanna Crispim, GP, Herts;
  73. Dr Antony Crockett, Retired GP, Swindon
  74. Dr Laurence Crutchlow, GP, Surrey
  75. Dr Ian Cunliffe, retired GP, Guildford
  76. Dr Helen Curry, GP
  77. Dr Luke Daines, GP
  78. Juli Dalgleish, GP
  79. Dr Rachel Davis, GP
  80. Dr Richard Deacon, GP, Manchester
  81. Dr Mike Delany, Retired GP, Hertfordshire
  82. Dr Hannah Denno, GP
  83. Dr Katharine Dismorr, GP, Tunbridge Wells
  84. Dr Caroline Diston, GP, Cambridge
  85. Dr Lucy Dobson, GP
  86. Dr Tina Doll, GP registrar, Birmingham
  87. Dr Sharon Dore, General practitioner, Belfast
  88. Dr Miriam Duncumb, GP
  89. Dr Wendy Dyke, GP
  90. Dr D E W Richards, GP
  91. Dr Ruth Eardley, Retired GP
  92. Dr Hannah Ebdon, GP
  93. Dr Ann Elizabeth Walker, GP
  94. Dr Caroline Ellin, GP Locum, Somerset
  95. Dr Catherine Ellis, GP, Leicestershire and Rutland
  96. Dr John Etherton, GP, Sussex
  97. Dr Peter Evans, GP, Porthcawl
  98. Dr Louisa Evans, Gp, Bridgend
  99. Dr David Evans, Retired GP, Kidlington
  100. Dr Simon Eyre, GP, Eastbourne
  101. Dr Martin F Crowther, GP
  102. Dr Gabriella Fabrizi, GP, London
  103. Dr Tehseen Fatima, GP, London
  104. Dr Dan Fergusson, GP
  105. Dr Christopher Fisher, GP
  106. Dr Ruth Fitch, GP, Kent
  107. Dr Tracey Foy, GP
  108. Dr Natasha Fraser, Retired GP, Stockport
  109. Dr Janet Gallaher, GP, Sheffield
  110. Dr Shimona Gayle, GP
  111. Prof Rob George, FRCGP, London
  112. Dr Andrew Giannelli, GP
  113. Dr Ailish Glen, GP, Lanarkshire
  114. Dr Lorna Goldring, GP
  115. Dr Steven Goldthorp, GP (retired), Cambridge
  116. Dr Victoria Goodall, GP
  117. Dr Ruth Goodwin, GP
  118. Dr Cerys Gordon, GP
  119. Dr Neil Grant, Retired GP
  120. Dr Lorna Green, GP, Leicester
  121. Dr B Greenwood, GP
  122. Dr Abishek Gregory Britto, GP, Essex
  123. Dr Sobbia Gull, GP, Liverpool
  124. Dr Jonathan Hall, GP
  125. Dr Rula Hamad, GP registrar, Bolton
  126. Dr Denis Hanly, Retired GP
  127. Dr Kirsty Hannah, GP Partner, London
  128. Dr Amir Hannan, GP, Hyde
  129. Dr Jane Harpur, GP
  130. Dr Sally Harrison, GP, Bristol
  131. Dr Wendy Harrison, GP
  132. Dr Sameena Hassan, GP, Gateshead
  133. Dr Helen Hawes, GP
  134. Dr Jenny Hawkins, GP
  135. Dr Philip Haynes, Retired GP, Berkshire
  136. Dr Emma Hayward, GP
  137. Dr Jane Heathcote, GP
  138. Dr Ian Hempshall, GP
  139. Dr Murray Herbert, GP, Hamilton
  140. Dr Julia Hewson, GP
  141. Dr Philip Hiorns, retired GP
  142. Dr Sue Hodson, GP
  143. Dr Kathryn Hogg, GP
  144. Dr Jo Hopkins , GP
  145. Dr Brian Hopkins, Retired GP, Sheffie
  146. Dr Sue Houghton, Retired GP, West Midlands
  147. Dr Gwenllian Hughes, GP, Cardiff
  148. Dr Wasima Hussain, GP, LONDON
  149. Dr Sabina Hussain, GP Registrar, Chesham
  150. Dr Mariyah Iqbal, GP,  London
  151. Dr Nabil Isaac, GP, Blackburn
  152. Dr T J Goulder, Retired GP, Hampshire
  153. Dr Nicola Jane Hilton, Salaried GP, Colchester
  154. Dr Qasim Javed, GP Registrar, Birmingham
  155. Dr Ian Jessiman, Retired GP
  156. Dr David John Magee, GP, Salisbury
  157. Dr Maria Johnson, GP, Cardiff
  158. Dr Jennifer Johnston, GP
  159. Dr Nicola Jones, GP, Buckley Wales
  160. Dr Angela Jones, GP, Oxfordshire
  161. Dr Lydia Joy, GP
  162. Dr Benita Joyce, Gp retired, Cranbrook, Kent
  163. Dr Kamilla Kamaruddin, GP, Cambridge
  164. Dr Clare Kendall, GP
  165. Dr Fiona Kennedy, GP, London
  166. Dr Howard Kennedy, GP
  167. Dr Heather Kennedy, GP
  168. Dr Sofia Khan, GP, Croydon
  169. Dr Muniba Khan GP, London
  170. Dr Peter Kiehlmann, retired GP, Scotland
  171. Dr Viktoriya Kim, GP, Dorset
  172. Dr Phillipa Knaggs, former GP, York
  173. Dr Anna Kuczynska, GP
  174. Dr Ian Lacy, Retired GP
  175. Dr Susannah Langtree, GP registrar, Cambridge
  176. Dr Emily Law, GP, Hertfordshire
  177. Dr Tom Lawes, GP
  178. Dr Susan Lawson, GP
  179. Dr John Lee, GP, London
  180. Dr Eugenia Lee, GP
  181. Dr Carmen Leung, GP
  182. Dr Michael Lewis, GP, Dorchester
  183. Dr Catherine Lobb, GP
  184. Dr Dermot Lynch, Retired GP, Middlesex
  185. Dr Alison Mabley, retired GP, Surrey
  186. Dr Donald MacAllister, GP, Duns
  187. Dr Sonia MacCallum, GP, Edinburgh
  188. Dr Jennifer Macdonald, GP, Lanarkshire
  189. Dr Beata MacDougall, GP
  190. Dr Lesley Mackintosh, GP, Glasgow
  191. Dr Catherine Maclennan, GP
  192. Dr Janet MacMillan, GP, Glasgow
  193. Dr Rosemary MacRae, GP, Merseyside
  194. Dr Rod MacRorie, retired GP, West Midlands
  195. Dr Ayiesha Malik, GP, West Midlands
  196. Dr Susan Marriott, Public Policy (previous GP), London.
  197. Dr John Martin, GP, Cambridge
  198. Dr Fiona Martindale, GP
  199. Dr Liz Mash, GP, Ramsgate
  200. Dr Alan Mason, GP
  201. Dr Rebekah Massey, GP registrar
  202. Dr Sheila Matthews, Retired GP, Wellingborough
  203. Dr Jannatul Mawa, GP
  204. Dr Stephanie May, GP Registrar, London
  205. Dr Angeli Maye, GP, Northants
  206. Dr Anne McAskie, GP, Dorset 
  207. Dr Shona McClure, GP
  208. Dr Gladys McCollum, GP, Scottish Borders
  209. Dr Laura McDonaugh, GP
  210. Dr Rebecca McGee, GP
  211. Dr Matthew McHardy, GP, Glasgow
  212. Dr Richard McKelvey, GP
  213. Dr Clare Mears, GP, Newcastle Upon Tyne
  214. Dr Lionel Mill, GP, West Midlands
  215. Dr Joni Miller, GP
  216. Dr Andrew Mills, GP, South Yorkshire
  217. Dr Eva Mitchell, Gp, Blackburn
  218. Dr Kimberley Moak, GP
  219. Dr Wafa Mohamad, GP, Hampshire 
  220. Dr Sadia Mohiud-din, GP, Surrey
  221. Dr Annetta Monaco, GP, Surrey
  222. Dr Daniel Morris, GP
  223. Dr Daniel Munday, Retired GP, Warwick
  224. Dr Derek Munday, GP, Saffron Walden
  225. Dr Christine Murray, retired GP, Paisley
  226. Dr Aaliya Najib, GP, Birmingham
  227. Dr Andrew Naylor, GP
  228. Dr Sian Newman, GP
  229. Dr Sophie Ng, GP, Cambridge
  230. Dr Anthony Ng, GP, Cambridge
  231. Dr Louise Noble, GP
  232. Dr Catherine Norwood, GP, Kent
  233. Dr Abdullah Nouri, GP, London
  234. Dr Michelle Nowers, GP
  235. Dr ALICE O’BRIEN, GP, Nottingham
  236. Dr Sarah Ogborn, GP
  237. Dr Sarah Oglesby, GP
  238. Dr Ben Onwochei, GP, London
  239. Dr Nick O’Rourke, GP, portsmouth
  240. Dr Precious Osadolor, GP
  241. Dr Kriss Owen, GP, Derbyshire
  242. Dr Rebecca Owen, GP,  North Wales
  243. Dr Funke Owolabi, GP registrar, West midlands
  244. Dr Richard Page, GP, Newton Ferrers
  245. Dr Marilyn Palmer, Gp, Cardiff
  246. Dr Rob Palmer, GP, London
  247. Dr Thomas Parkes, GP
  248. Dr Asif Patel, GP, Blackburn
  249. Dr Anne Pauleau, GP, London
  250. Dr Hannah Pearlman, GP, South Yorkshire
  251. Dr Andrew Perkins, retired GP, Kenilworth
  252. Dr Andrew Perrett, GP, Cambridge
  253. Dr Joyce Poon, GP
  254. Dr Aaron Poppleton, GP
  255. Dr Angharad Powell, GP, Deeside
  256. Dr Helen Pring, GP
  257. Dr Richard Proctor, GP
  258. Dr Samantha Prout, GP
  259. Dr Andrew Quayle, Retired GP, Martock
  260. Dr Saffan Qureshi, GP, London
  261. Dr Abigail Randall, GP, London. 
  262. Willemina Rietsema, GP, Oxfordshire
  263. Dr Kelly Roberts, GP, Wolverhampton
  264. Dr David Roberts, GP, Kettering
  265. Dr Diana Rodrigues, GP, Bristol
  266. Dr David Rogers, GP retired, Portsmouth
  267. Dr Anna Rogers, GP
  268. Dr Joanna Rose, GP
  269. Dr PH Ross Bryson, GP, Birmingham
  270. Dr Stephen Ross, GP
  271. Dr Valerie Rowe, GP
  272. Dr Tamara Roycroft, GP, Lancashire
  273. Dr Joanna Ruth Smith, GP, Lancashire
  274. Dr Maisa Saghairoun, GP, Birmingham
  275. Dr Louise Sands, GP
  276. Dr Caroline Saunders, GP, Cardiff & Vale
  277. Dr Emily Saunders, GP
  278. Dr Victoria Schutzer-Weissmann, GP, Oxford
  279. Dr Klaas Schuur, GP, Scotland
  280. Dr Rebecca Scott, GP, London
  281. Dr Sandra Sedgwick, GP
  282. Dr Stephen Selby, GP
  283. Dr Mohammed Shafiq, GP, Coventry
  284. Dr Jenna Sharpe, GP, West Midlands
  285. Dr Jamila Sherif, GP, London
  286. Dr Jamila Sherif, GP, London
  287. Dr Yetunde Shoruna, GP, West Midlands
  288. Dr jonathan smithson, GP, Northam
  289. Ms Mona Sood, Pharmacist, Southend-on-sea
  290. Dr Maggy Spence, GP
  291. Dr Ruth Spencer, GP
  292. Dr Pieter-Bas Spronk, GP, London
  293. Dr Trevor Stammers, GP and Associate Prof of Medicak Ethics, Epsom
  294. Dr Gregory Tanner, Retired GP, Somerset
  295. Dr Sarian Taylor, GP
  296. Dr Maire Thomas, GP
  297. Dr Sarah Thornley, GP, Blackburn
  298. Dr Philip Thornley, GP retired, Bristol
  299. Dr Sarah Thornley, GP
  300. Dr Fiona Thornton, GP, Hampshire
  301. Dr James Tomlinson, GP, West Midlands
  302. Dr Ian Tooley, Retired GP, Derbyshire
  303. Dr Gavin Torr, GP, Lancaster
  304. Dr Catherine Torrens, GP
  305. Dr David Towers, Retired GP, Severn Faculty
  306. Dr Timothy Trussell, GP, Leicester
  307. Dr Maryam Tukur, GP, Manchester
  308. Dr Edward Tulloch, GP, Lothian
  309. Dr Sarah Tulloch, GP registrar, Lothian
  310. Dr Dickie Twort, retired GP
  311. Dr Alim Uddin, GP, Ilford
  312. Dr Calum Urquhart, GP, Highlands. 
  313. Dr Nicola van der Westhuyzen, GP, Luton
  314. Dr Hugo Van Woerden, Retired GP, Inverness
  315. Dr Andrine Van Woerden, GP, Cardiff
  316. Dr Louise Vaughan, GP, London
  317. Dr Gervase Vernon, retired GP, Essex
  318. Dr Alison Watson, GP
  319. Dr Amy Watson, GP
  320. Dr Tara Watson, GP
  321. Dr Leah Watson. GP registrar
  322. Dr Anne Williams, GP Principal, Glasgow
  323. Dr Dominic Williams, GP, West Midlands
  324. Dr Jenny Wilson, GP, Bedford
  325. Dr Jenny Wilson, GP, Scotland
  326. Dr Jillian Wilson, GP
  327. Dr Peter Winfrey, GP, East Midlands
  328. Dr David Winteler, GP, West Midlands
  329. Dr Helen Winterton, GP
  330. Dr Felicia Wong, GP, London
  331. Dr Lydia Wood, GP, Guernsey
  332. Dr Hannah Wood, GP
  333. Dr Elizabeth Woodroffe, GP Partner, Cambridge
  334. Dr Richard Workman, GP
  335. Dr Nicola Wright, GP
  336. Dr Sarah Wright, GP
  337. Dr Ivan Yow, GP, Preston
  338. Dr Caroline Zdziarska, Retired GP, East Midlands

If you are a GP, anywhere in the UK, you can add your details below.

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