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The RCGP survey results showed that opposition to a change in the law was the most favoured option chosen by 47% of those surveyed.
This maintained the position of opposition to assisted suicide after a consultation in 2013 had the same finding.
Following a consultation with its membership in 2019, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) adopted a position of neutrality on assisted suicide.
However, the process leading to this decision required a 60% supermajority to retain the RCP’s previous position of opposition and was therefore subject to threatened legal action. The RCP clarified in 2020 that it does not support a change in the law.
"So that there can be no doubt, the RCP clarifies that it does not support a change in the law to permit assisted dying at the present time.... The majority of doctors would be unwilling to participate actively in assisted dying if the law were changed to permit it, with only 25% indicating a willingness to do so."
The results of the BMA survey in Feb 2020 reveal a change in the views of doctors over time. 40% of respondents indicated support for a change in the BMA position to allow doctor-assisted suicide. 40% of respondents opposed a change in the BMA position on administering drugs to end life or physician administered euthanasia.
It should be noted that just over half doctors are BMA members and only 19% of invitations provided useable responses.
The current BMA position is to be opposed to assisted dying in all its forms. This will be debated at its Annual Representatives Meeting in September 2021, and the results of the poll will inform, but not determine the outcome.
oppose a change in the BMA position to allow doctor-assisted suicide
thought that the BMA should support the legalisation of physician administered euthanasia
Our duty of care is a group of UK healthcare workers who oppose the intentional killing of patients by assisted suicide or euthanasia. We are a campaign that is financed and administered by the Care Not Killing alliance.
It is supported by a wide range of healthcare professionals, and has campaigned during the membership polls run by the Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of General Practitioners and British Medical Association to maintain medical opposition to assisted suicide.
The campaign is administered by David Randall, a consultant nephrologist working in London, and Gillian Wright, a former palliative care doctor based in Scotland.
Journalists in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – please contact Alistair Thompson on 07970 162225 – alistair@teambritanniapr.com
Journalists in Scotland – please contact Tom Hamilton Communications on 07836 603977
Care NOT Killing – Promoting palliative care, opposing euthanasia and assisted suicide
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