GPs decry Royal College’s ‘incompatible’ stance on assisted suicide

More than 260 doctors have slammed the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) for ending its opposition to assisted suicide.

In a letter to The Times organised by campaign group Our Duty of Care, 268 GPs voiced their disappointment that the RCGP has “grossly” misrepresented doctors’ views on the issue by switching its position to “neutral”.

While almost half (47.5 per cent) of members who voted wanted the governing body to retain its historic opposition to assisted suicide and only 13.6 per cent supported a neutral position, the survey was not binding and 60 per cent of the leadership council voted to change its stance.

Responsibility

Despite the Royal College’s move, the survey actually revealed support for assisted suicide has dropped among GPs.

54,000 RCGP members were polled on their opinions earlier this year, and of the 8,779 responses, the percentage of those in favour of a pro-assisted suicide position was just 33.7 per cent — 6 per cent lower than the previous referendum in 2019.

The GPs’ letter warned that because the survey did not explore doctors’ views in detail, even those who backed the principle of assisted suicide may not support it “in the context of today’s pressured NHS, and may be unwilling to be personally involved in assisting deaths”.

They highlighted that, in the 2019 survey, “only 7 per cent of GPs thought they should prescribe lethal drugs, and only 16 per cent felt GPs should take responsibility for confirming eligibility for assisted dying”. They added: “It is likely that similar practical opposition persists.”

‘Misrepresentative’

The group concluded: “We find assisted suicide incompatible with our values as doctors: to promote and preserve life, and to be worthy of our patients’ trust. We will not be involved in its provision and remain committed to easing suffering at the end of life through proactive, compassionate and holistic palliative care.

“We regret the RCGP’s stance and find it grossly misrepresentative of GPs’ attitudes to assisted dying.”

Chair of RCGP Council, Professor Kamila Hawthorne MBE, claimed that the organisation will push to “ensure that no GP feels as though they have to participate” in assisted suicide, and that funding is not diverted away from palliative care to provide it.

NHS

Earlier this month, doctors at the British Medical Association’s (BMA) consultants conference voted to emphasise that assisted suicide is not healthcare.

The approved motion stated that Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide Bill raises “serious potential moral hazards for consultants, and serious potential adverse impacts on health services”.

It concluded: “Assisted dying is not a health activity and it must not take place in NHS or other health facilities, and assisted dying providers must be employed under separate contractual arrangements.”

The Committee tasked with scrutinising the ‘Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill’ has already rejected a host of amendments for greater safeguards, including one that would have ensured a stricter assessment of mental capacity, which the Royal College of Psychiatrists supported.