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The professional body for GPs in the UK has softened its stance on the legalisation of assisted dying, moving to a position of neutrality on the controversial issue.
The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) had been previously been opposed to a change in the law to legalise assisted dying, having adopted that position in 2005.
But, after consultation with its members, the college’s council confirmed on Friday that it had voted to move to a position of neither supporting nor opposing assisted dying being legal.
The decision comes as a committee of 23 MPs is undertaking line-by-line scrutiny of the terminally ill adults (end of life) bill before it returns to the House of Commons – most likely towards the end of April – for further debate and a vote.
Prof Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “This is a highly sensitive personal, societal and legislative issue, and we need to be in a position to represent the views of all of our members and patients; shifting to a position of neither opposing nor supporting assisted dying being legal will allow us to do this best.
“Neither opposing nor supporting assisted dying does not mean we will be stepping back from the debate. Our focus will be on advocating for our members, regardless of their views on assisted dying, as to how potential changes in the law will impact on their daily practice and the care they deliver for patients.”
A third-party agency conducted a survey earlier this year on the issue and received a 16% response rate: 8,779 out of a potential 53,539 records on the membership database.
A total of 47.6% voted that the RCGP should oppose assisted dying being legal, 13.6% voted that the RCGP should move to a position of neither supporting nor opposing assisted dying being legal, while 33.7% voted that the RCGP should support assisted dying being legal. The remaining 5.1% were undecided.
The body’s governing council, using the survey results, voted on what its official position should be and 61% voted that the RCGP should move to a position of neither supporting nor opposing assisted dying being legal.
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The college’s previous position of opposing a change in the law on assisted dying was adopted by RCGP Council in 2005 and reaffirmed in 2014 and 2020, after an engagement exercise and a member consultation, respectively.
The terminally ill adults (end of life) bill is now in Committee Stage in the House of Commons. If voted into law, the bill will allow eligible adults in England and Wales who are terminally ill to request and be provided with assistance to end their own life. In Scotland, the assisted dying for terminally ill adults bill remains at first stage as MSPs consider the general principles of the legislation.
