Royal College of Physicians drops their opposition to assisted dying, following controversial poll

Mar 22, 2019 by

by Laura Donnelly, Telegraph:

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has dropped its opposition to assisted dying, following a controversial poll.

The college will adopt a “neutral” stance after a survey of its 36,000 members about whether the law should be changed to permit doctor-assisted dying.

The poll found 43.4 per cent of respondents were opposed to a change in the law – little different to a finding of 44.4 per cent when the poll was conducted in 2014.

The number wanting the college to support assisted dying increased to 31.6 per cent from 24.6 per cent.

Just 25 per cent thought the RCP stance should be neutral – a fall from 31 per cent, when medics were last polled.

However, the terms of the new poll mean the college will now adopt a neutral position.

The RCP had said it would do so, unless there was a 60 per cent majority for or against.

As a result, the college was accused of running a “sham poll” by medics who say that it has framed the survey in order to shift its position.

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Read also:  Response to Royal College of Physicians announcement on assisted dying from the Church of England website

 

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