Assisted dying legislation must be ‘watertight’: RCGP responds to BBC poll

The RCGP has appeared across BBC news outlets this morning, including Radio 4’s Today Programme and Radio 5 Live, responding to BBC research into GPs’ attitudes on assisted dying.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: "This research is not dissimilar to our own survey of members. It shows that GPs have widely differing, deeply personal, and strongly held views about assisted dying. This is why the College recently decided to shift to a position of neither opposing nor supporting assisted dying being legal, so that we can best represent all the views of our members, and patients, as the legislative debate continues.

“This research also shows that GPs have real concerns about the practical and legal implications of a change in the law on assisted dying. These must be acknowledged and addressed, so that any legislation is watertight. What is clear is that no GP should be obliged to participate in delivering assisted dying services if and when they become legal and there should be a right to refuse to participate on any grounds. We would want to see statutory protections making it unlawful to discriminate against any doctor on the basis of their decision to, or not to, participate in the assisted dying process. The College also believes any assisted dying service that is introduced should be a completely separate service - and additionally funded service - to core general practice.

“Should assisted dying become legal, it is also imperative that palliative care must be strengthened to ensure patients can have the best possible care at or near the end of their lives, without feeling as though assisted dying is their best or only option.

“As a College, our focus moving forward is to advocate for our members to ensure that any changes in the law are implemented in the fairest and safest way, with robust protections for patients and GPs.”

Further information

RCGP press office: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 54,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.