Following an extensive consultation the RCGP has decided to retain its opposition to physician assisted dying.
47% of respondents said that the RCGP should oppose a change in the law on assisted dying
The Royal College of GPs has voted to retain its opposition to physician assisted dying.
The breakdown of the results is as follows:
47% of respondents said that the RCGP should oppose a change in the law on assisted dying
40% of respondents said the RCGP should support a change in the law on assisted dying, providing there is a regulatory framework and appropriate safeguarding processes in place
11% of respondents said that the RCGP should have a neutral position
2% of respondents abstained from answering
Once again, following an extensive consultation, a leading medical college has indicated that it does not support a change in the law.
Despite the opposition of medical colleges to physician assisted dying, campaigners who support a change in the law still insist that the burden of assessing patients and supplying lethal drugs, should be placed on the shoulders of doctors. Yet this is problematic given that the majority of UK doctors do not wish to be involved with assisting their patients with suicide.
Should physician assisted suicide ever become legal in England and Wales, it is highly likely that we would imitate the worrying experience of Oregon, where patients would be forced to ‘shop around’ for compliant doctors who do not know them beyond their case notes.
Supporters of assisted dying often accuse politicians of not listening to the views of the public on the issue of assisted dying. But the views of doctors cannot continue to be dismissed either.