RCGP votes in favour of changing its position on assisted dying

The RCGP will move to a position of ‘neither supporting nor opposing’ assisted dying, after a vote of its council members.

Elected representatives of the wider college membership voted to determine the RCGP’s stance in the controversial debate, with 61% in favour of a move to a position of ‘neither supporting nor opposing assisted dying being legal’.    

The college’s current position – adopted in 2020 – is to oppose any change in the law on assisted dying, but this was reviewed in light of the assisted dying bill currently being tabled.  

The draft legislation, which would allow terminally ill adults to end their lives, was backed by MPs in a vote in November and is currently going through the ‘committee stage’, where it comes under detailed scrutiny.

The RCGP vote follows a survey of GPs conducted earlier this year, which was completed by 8,779 GPs and GP registrars and found that:

• 47.6% of respondents said that the RCGP should oppose assisted dying being legal
• 13.6% said that the RCGP should move to a position of neither supporting nor opposing assisted dying being legal 
• 33.7% said that the RCGP should support assisted dying being legal, subject to an appropriate regulatory framework and safeguarding processes 
• 5.1% were undecided.

GPs were then asked, if none of the three statements in the previous question were selected by more than 50% of respondents, which of the following approaches RCGP Council should take:

• 23.8% said that the college should adopt the position chosen by the highest number of respondents 
• 49.8% said the college should adopt a position of neither supporting nor opposing assisted dying being legal 
• 19.4% said neither of the above 
• 7% were undecided.

RCGP chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne said that neither opposing nor supporting assisted dying does not mean the college will be ‘stepping back’ from the debate.

She said: ‘Today’s discussion and our recent survey of our members, have clearly shown that GPs have widely differing and strongly held views about assisted dying – we care deeply about our patients.

‘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.’

The college said it will ‘continue to advocate’ for the recommendations of an RCGP working group that was set up to consider the ‘practical implications’ for GPs should there be a change in the law to permit assisted dying, agreed by council in September last year.

These include that should assisted dying be legalised, it should be seen as ‘an additional specialised service’ that GPs and other healthcare professionals may opt to provide with additional training, and not part of core general practice.  

Meanwhile, the BMA has reiterated its ‘neutral’ position on the issue of assisted dying, but has emphasised the need for ‘absolute freedom of choice for doctors as to whether they participate or not’.

And the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) also has a ‘neutral position’ on assisted dying, which was adopted in 2019 following a member survey. However, the RCP has said it will consider how it will engage with the parliamentary process regarding ‘issues around implementation’.

Under an amendment of the bill tabled in February, doctors will not be allowed to discuss assisted dying with patients without first explaining available palliative care and other options.

Under the current bill, two doctors would first need to assess the person and provide sign-off, but it states that doctors are not under ‘any duty’ to raise assisted dying with patients or to ‘participate in the provision of assistance’ if they do not wish to do so.

While giving evidence to the committee stage, England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty told MPs that GPs will require additional training to be able to fully support patients should the assisted dying bill pass.

The assisted dying bill’s current committee stage, which will determine the inclusion of amendments tabled by Ms Leadbeater and others, is expected to conclude by 25 April with another vote.