Half of UK doctors want changes in the law with assisted dying

Half of doctors in the UK now want to see a change in the law in regard to assisted dying and allow them to prescribe drugs for patients to self-administer and end their own life, according to a new survey.

The British Medical Association’s first-ever survey of its members’ views on assisted dying has found doctors are in support of assisted dying and want the BMA to drop its official policy of opposition to a change in the law.

Nearly 29,000 members of the BMA responded, making it the largest ever survey of medical opinion on assisted dying in the UK.

The doctors were asked what the BMA’s position should be regarding a change in the law on assisted dying. Forty per cent said the BMA should support a change in the law, 21 per cent said the BMA should take a neutral position and just 33 per cent thought the BMA should maintain its opposition.

When asked for their personal views on law change, 50 per cent of doctors were in favour of law change on assisted dying with 39 per cent opposed and 11 per cent undecided.

’There is growing pressure in the UK for an urgent review of our cruel laws’

Dr Jacky Davis, chair of Healthcare Professionals for Assisted Dying, said: "We now know what we’ve suspected for many years that there is a wide range of views amongst doctors and support for law change is growing year by year.

"Doctors want to listen to their patients and support them throughout their lives and, for some dying people, that will include a need for choice and control at the end of life. For too long the medical establishment has opposed assisted dying without listening to the opinions of the profession as a whole."

Dr Davis commended the BMA for conducting the fair survey and said it will help discussions at the next annual representative meeting.

“It is to be hoped that the BMA will listen to its members and take a more constructive position on assisted dying. This will help ensure we get a new law that works for doctors, works for dying people, and works for society as a whole,” says Dr Davis.

Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said: “This is a historic vote and shows the majority of doctors support greater choice at the end of life. The BMA’s official opposition to assisted dying is completely unrepresentative of its members.

“The BMA should be congratulated for having sought out its members’ views on the subject and we look forward to the BMA reviewing its position so it can truly claim to represent the range of opinions of its members.

"Similar results have been found in surveys by the Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of GPs, demonstrating that the opposition to assisted dying that some doctors’ groups have previously maintained is simply not sustainable.”

Last night, the Dying with Dignity Bill, passed its first stage at the Dáil in Ireland with 81 votes to 71 and in New Zealand, the world’s first national referendum on assisted dying will be held next week after its Parliament passed an end of life choice bill last year.

Ms Wootton said: “These results come hot on the heels of the vote last night in Ireland’s Parliament to support assisted dying legislation, and shortly before a referendum on the subject in New Zealand. It’s clear that both in this country and overseas there has been a real shift in opinion amongst both healthcare professionals and amongst politicians.

“There is growing pressure in the UK for an urgent review of our cruel laws, with cross-party parliamentarians, police and crime commissioners, interfaith leaders and senior figures in the medical profession, including most recently emeritus medical director of Public Health England Paul Cosford, all recognising that the ban on assisted dying is simply not working. It is time for the UK to grasp this nettle and change the law.”