The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents about 150,000 medics, today voted to adopt a position of neutrality on physician-assisted dying at its annual representative meeting.
The change comes ahead of the second reading of the Assisted Dying Bill due later this year. The bill would legalise assisted dying as a choice for terminally ill, mentally competent adults in their final months of life.
BMA member views
In a survey of BMA members last year, only one third of respondents expressed support for the BMA's position of active opposition to assisted dying. Half were in favour of its legalisation.
Speaking in support of the motion at the meeting, chair of the National Secular Society's Secular Medical Forum, Dr Antony Lempert, told delegates that the switch to a neutral position "does not seek to silence minority voices" and would enable the BMA to "share the wide spectrum of members' opinion, expertise and concerns."
He said doctors' primary responsibility was to patients:
The change comes ahead of the second reading of the Assisted Dying Bill due later this year. The bill would legalise assisted dying as a choice for terminally ill, mentally competent adults in their final months of life.
BMA member views
In a survey of BMA members last year, only one third of respondents expressed support for the BMA's position of active opposition to assisted dying. Half were in favour of its legalisation.
Speaking in support of the motion at the meeting, chair of the National Secular Society's Secular Medical Forum, Dr Antony Lempert, told delegates that the switch to a neutral position "does not seek to silence minority voices" and would enable the BMA to "share the wide spectrum of members' opinion, expertise and concerns."
He said doctors' primary responsibility was to patients:
the vast majority of whom deplore the criminalisation of any attempt by loving relatives or by doctors to help desperate people to escape the torment of unbearable suffering.
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