Two in five GPS want change in law to allow assisted dying

THE number of GPS who want a change in the law to allow assisted dying has risen dramatically.

A poll of almost 7,000 doctors by the Royal College of GPS found 47 per cent of those responding wanted to continue their opposition. Assisted dying is illegal in the UK.

But 40 per cent wanted to see the law altered, up from just five per cent when the college polled its members seven years ago.

The RCGP Council said it will not review its position for at least five years unless there are “significant developments”.

The last time it carried out such a poll, 77 per cent of GPS were opposed to assisted dying.

Prof Martin Marshall, RCGP chairman, said: “As the UK’S largest medical Royal College it is important that we engage in debate and listen to what our members have to say on wideranging issues affecting GPS and their patients.

“Assisted dying is a controversial topic and this was reflected in the responses to our consultation. However, the highest proportion of respondents said that the College should continue to oppose a change in the law on assisted dying.

“This was the largest consultation on an issue of public policy that the College has conducted both in terms of response rate and volume of respondents.

The survey results have been helpful in guiding College Council as to what our position should be.

“The role of the College now is to ensure that patients receive the best possible palliative and end of life care, and to this end we are working with Marie Curie and others to support this.”

The RCGP consultation was sent to 49,539 of its members, of which 6,674 responded. Some 11 per cent said the RCGP should be neutral, while 2 per cent abstained.