On 30 March 2020 the RCP published a statement to clarify its position on assisted dying. A copy of that statement is available here.
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has adopted a neutral position on assisted dying following a survey of its UK fellows and members, reflecting their range of views.
Of the three options, 43.4% of respondents thought the RCP should be opposed to a change in the law on assisted dying, compared to 44.4% when the survey was last conducted in 2014. The percentage wanting the RCP to support a change in the law increased to 31.6% from 24.6%, and 25% thought the RCP should be neutral.
Neutrality reflects the decision taken ahead of the survey by the RCP’s Council, its main professional decision-making body, to require a supermajority of 60% for a position either supporting or opposing a change in the law. Neutrality also reflects the lack of a simple majority for any particular view.
The online survey, carried out between 5 February and 1 March, also asked fellows and members whether they personally support a change in the law on assisted dying. Those supporting such a change increased to 40.5% from 32.3%, while those opposing it fell from 57.5% to 49.1%. The survey was completed by 6,885 respondents from more than 30 specialties.
The percentage of fellows and members saying that if the law changed they would be prepared to participate in assisted dying increased from 21.4% to 24.6%, while the percentage saying no to this fell by a similar amount, from 58.4% to 55.1%.
RCP president Professor Andrew Goddard said:
"It is clear that there is a range of views on assisted dying in medicine, just as there is in society. We have been open from the start of this process that adopting a neutral position will mean that we can reflect the differing opinions among our membership.
"Neutral means the RCP neither supports nor opposes a change in the law and we won’t be focusing on assisted dying in our work. Instead, we will continue championing high-quality palliative care services."
The RCP defines ‘assisted dying’ as:
- The supply by a doctor of a lethal dose of drugs to a patient who is terminally ill, meets certain criteria that will be defined by law, and requests those drugs in order that they might be used by the person concerned to end their life.
The criteria a patient would have to meet would be defined by the law, and we cannot predict the content of any legislation. Considering past bills, it is likely that two doctors would be required to satisfy themselves that the person making the request:
- was terminally ill (defined as having an incurable and progressive condition as a result of which death is reasonably expected within six months)
- had the capacity to make the decision to end their life
- had the capability to end their own life
- had been fully informed of their palliative care options
- had a clear and settled intention to end their life which had been reached voluntarily, on an informed basis and without coercion or duress.
The legislation would probably also include a conscientious objection clause for all healthcare professionals. For more information, you can read the Assisted Dying Bill that was considered by Parliament in 2016-17.