Doctors Revolt Against Pro-Euthanasia Move

15.02.2019

Nearly 1,500 doctors have signed an open letter opposing attempts by the Royal College of Physicians to drop its historic opposition to assisted suicide.

Last month, the College announced that it would poll its members on their position on assisted suicide – but said that it would automatically move to a “neutral” position unless a super-majority of 60 per cent vote to remain opposed or switch to being in favour. In the last RCP poll, in 2014, 58 per cent of members opposed assisted suicide, and only 32 per cent supported it. By conducting the new poll with a three-way question, the College has ensured that the required majority will be even harder to obtain.

As of last Sunday (10 February), 1,422 medics had signed a letter to Professor Andrew Goddard, President of the RCP, protesting this “undemocratic and unfair” way of framing the poll.

The medics write “to express our alarm at the way the Royal College of Physicians seem to have designed the up-coming poll of members’ views on assisted suicide. It seems perfectly clear that the survey has been designed to ensure the College drops its long-standing opposition to assisted suicide and move instead to a position of so called ‘neutrality’.”

The letter highlights how the College has been hijacked by the assisted suicide lobby, saying: “at a recent council meeting, a new default position of neutral was adopted prior to the announcement of the new poll, without any involvement of the wider membership. Sadly it seems the council may well be overly influenced by the presence of several prominent campaigners for assisted suicide.”

The doctors behind the open letter have formed a campaign group called Our Duty of Care, headed by Dr David Randall. They also explain why it is not possible for a doctors body to be “neutral” on assisted suicide. “Furthermore, neutrality in this instance is illusory – a myth. By leaning towards a ‘neutral’ position, the College is effectively stating that it is not formally opposed to doctors prescribing lethal drugs so patients can end their lives. In simple terms, neutrality is a misnomer and nothing more than tacit support for assisted suicide.”

Some doctors are seeking a judicial review of the poll. Prof Goddard, however, said the College does not accept it can be subject to a judicial review. He said there were “different readings” of the 2014 poll, so that's why a “super-majority” is being sought this time.

Life News. February 11. Sunday Express. February 10.