My Life, My Choice
The Times reports that the Royal College of Physicians has dropped its opposition to assisted dying.
As things stand, 'a friend at the end' still runs a considerable risk of being treated as a criminal for helping someone of sound mind to take charge of the circumstances surrounding their own death.
Which is wrong if you ask me and why we need is a change in the law to reflect the reality of My Life, My Death, My Choice.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/royal-college-of-physicians-drops-opposition-to-assisted-dying-jbpcbwzfr
Royal College of Physicians drops opposition to assisted dying
By Chris Smyth - The Times
Doctors said that physician opinion had changed at the same time as public opinionALAMY
One of the country’s most influential medical bodies has ended its opposition to assisted dying after a poll that opponents branded “absurd”.
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) said that medical opinion had moved in favour of allowing doctors to help dying patients end their own lives, making neutrality the most representative position.
A legal challenge from opponents, who said a requirement for a super-majority of 60 per cent to retain the college’s previous stance was an attempt to rig the poll, was thrown out yesterday by the High Court.
The result means that England’s oldest and grandest medical professional standards body will no longer lobby MPs to retain existing laws that make assisting suicide punishable by up to 14 years in prison, but will aim to set out both sides of the argument.
The Royal College of Radiologists, which represents many cancer doctors, also decided not to take a position yesterday after polling its members, but most leading medical bodies remain opposed to assisted dying.
“As public opinion has changed, it is clear from our survey that physician opinion has changed with time,” Andrew Goddard, president of the RCP, told The Times. “The trouble with a polarised set of opinions is that to take either side over the other would not be representative.”
The survey of 6,885 doctors in 39 medical specialties found 49 per cent opposing a change in the law, down from 58 per cent when the poll was last carried out in 2014, with 41 per cent supporting a change, up from 32 per cent.
In addition 43 per cent said the RCP should be opposed to assisted dying, almost unchanged since 2014, while 32 per cent said it should be in favour, up from 25 per cent. Neutrality was supported by only 25 per cent, down from 31 per cent.
“You can see the direction of travel — at some point given that direction we were going to move from opposed to neutral,” Professor Goddard said. “We are trailing public opinion on this issue.” Polls have found a majority of voters back a change.
Critics said it made no sense that the least popular position had triumphed. Professor Goddard defended the decision to change the rules of the poll, saying the college “had Brexit in mind and the dangers of a very close result” in setting the 60 per cent threshold for an active position. “We have been open from the start of this process that adopting a neutral position will mean that we can reflect the differing opinions among our membership,” he said.
Palliative care doctors, who specialise in relieving the pain of dying patients, were the strongest opponents of a change, with 80 per cent saying the RCP should be opposed.
Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, a leading palliative care specialist, said: “Nearly twice as many RCP members and fellows voted for the college to oppose assisted suicide than voted for neutrality. Yet as a result of the recent arbitrary and politically motivated change in the rules their views have been ignored.” Gordon Macdonald, of the anti-euthanasia group Care Not Killing, pointed to the poll’s finding that only a quarter of doctors would be willing to help a patient to die. “Most doctors are clear that they do not want a change in the law on assisted suicide or euthanasia,” he said.
However, Sarah Wootton, of Dignity in Dying, praised the RCP for a “balanced and compassionate stance” and urged other medical bodies to follow its lead. “This move from the RCP will allow the voices of terminally ill people and their loved ones to rightly be front and centre in this debate,” she said.
One of the country’s most influential medical bodies has ended its opposition to assisted dying after a poll that opponents branded “absurd”.
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) said that medical opinion had moved in favour of allowing doctors to help dying patients end their own lives, making neutrality the most representative position.
A legal challenge from opponents, who said a requirement for a super-majority of 60 per cent to retain the college’s previous stance was an attempt to rig the poll, was thrown out yesterday by the High Court.
The result means that England’s oldest and grandest medical professional standards body will no longer lobby MPs to retain existing laws that make assisting suicide punishable by up to 14 years in prison, but will aim to set out both sides of the argument.
The Royal College of Radiologists, which represents many cancer doctors, also decided not to take a position yesterday after polling its members, but most leading medical bodies remain opposed to assisted dying.
“As public opinion has changed, it is clear from our survey that physician opinion has changed with time,” Andrew Goddard, president of the RCP, told The Times. “The trouble with a polarised set of opinions is that to take either side over the other would not be representative.”
The survey of 6,885 doctors in 39 medical specialties found 49 per cent opposing a change in the law, down from 58 per cent when the poll was last carried out in 2014, with 41 per cent supporting a change, up from 32 per cent.
In addition 43 per cent said the RCP should be opposed to assisted dying, almost unchanged since 2014, while 32 per cent said it should be in favour, up from 25 per cent. Neutrality was supported by only 25 per cent, down from 31 per cent.
“You can see the direction of travel — at some point given that direction we were going to move from opposed to neutral,” Professor Goddard said. “We are trailing public opinion on this issue.” Polls have found a majority of voters back a change.
Critics said it made no sense that the least popular position had triumphed. Professor Goddard defended the decision to change the rules of the poll, saying the college “had Brexit in mind and the dangers of a very close result” in setting the 60 per cent threshold for an active position. “We have been open from the start of this process that adopting a neutral position will mean that we can reflect the differing opinions among our membership,” he said.
Palliative care doctors, who specialise in relieving the pain of dying patients, were the strongest opponents of a change, with 80 per cent saying the RCP should be opposed.
Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, a leading palliative care specialist, said: “Nearly twice as many RCP members and fellows voted for the college to oppose assisted suicide than voted for neutrality. Yet as a result of the recent arbitrary and politically motivated change in the rules their views have been ignored.” Gordon Macdonald, of the anti-euthanasia group Care Not Killing, pointed to the poll’s finding that only a quarter of doctors would be willing to help a patient to die. “Most doctors are clear that they do not want a change in the law on assisted suicide or euthanasia,” he said.
However, Sarah Wootton, of Dignity in Dying, praised the RCP for a “balanced and compassionate stance” and urged other medical bodies to follow its lead. “This move from the RCP will allow the voices of terminally ill people and their loved ones to rightly be front and centre in this debate,” she said.
