1,500 doctors back campaign against ‘tacit support’ plan
MORE than 1,000 doctors have signed a letter opposing alleged attempts by the Royal College of Physicians to become “neutral” on assisted dying.
The college is locked in a row with members over its position. Although a poll in 2014 found 58 per cent did not support it, the college says unless it has a 60 per cent majority for or against, it will adopt a neutral view.
It is conducting a new poll but with a three-way question, which opponents say makes the majority harder to obtain. This could lead to “tacit support” in favour of assisted suicide.
The letter from concerned doctors comes after Geoffrey Whaley ended his life last week at a Dignitas clinic near Zurich after being diagnosed with terminal motor neurone disease in 2016. His action, supported by wife Ann, would be illegal in the UK and he wrote to MPs urging a change in the law.
Campaign group Our Duty of Care has been set up by Dr David Randall with the backing of almost 1,500 medics and he has written to the RCP objecting to its poll, which has been described privately by medics as “a rigged contest”. The issue has seen heavy lobbying by political groups wanting Britain to allow doctors to help patients with terminal conditions to die.
However, most medics have historically opposed the move and critics warn it will open the door to large-scale euthanasia, with elderly relatives or people with complicated medical conditions pressured into ending their lives early.
The last time the RCP polled its members, 57.5 per cent said they opposed assisted dying while only 32.3 per cent supported it. In the same survey 62.5 per cent agreed “high quality palliative care” was a better option.
Crucially, the 57.5 per cent opposition would not have been enough to prevent the college taking a “neutral position” based on its current survey.
The open letter to college president Professor Andrew Goddard, signed by 1,422 top medics, said: “It seems perfectly clear the survey has been designed to ensure the college drops its long-standing opposition to assisted suicide and move instead to a position of socalled ‘neutrality’.
“Indeed, at a recent council meeting, a new default position of neutral was adopted prior to the announcement of the new poll, without any involvement of the wider membership.
“We acknowledge members may hold different views on this sensitive issue. But by going neutral, the college is sending a clear signal of support for a law change. Given the most recent poll of members showed a majority were opposed to assisted suicide, the approach the college is taking is extraordinary.”
Meanwhile doctors are seeking a judicial review of the poll. Solicitor Paul Conrathe said High Court proceedings would begin shortly.
In a statement to the Sunday Express, Prof Goddard said the college does not accept it can be subject to a judicial review.
He added there were “different readings” of the 2014 poll, so that’s why a “super-majority” is being sought this time.
“Unless 60 per cent vote in favour of the RCP either supporting or opposing assisted dying, it will adopt a neutral position and can reflect the differing views of its members.”