BMA Reaffirms Opposition To Assisted Suicide, UK

Main Category: Palliative Care / Hospice Care
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;  Public Health
Article Date: 02 Jul 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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Doctors have reaffirmed their opposition to assisted suicide following a debate at the BMA's Annual Conference in Liverpool yesterday. Doctors rejected calls from Thameside doctor, Kailash Chand to change legislation to allow the choice of an assisted death by patients who are terminally ill and who have mental capacity.

Doctors also rejected calls to ensure that those accompanying the patient at an assisted death, but not actively participating, will not be subject to criminal prosecution.

Dr Brian Keighley, Deputy Chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said:

"It is clear that doctors do not wish to play a role in assisting a patient's death. Assisting patients to die prematurely is not part of the moral ethos or the primary goal of medicine. If the legislation were to be changed, it would have serious negative consequences on the relationship between doctors and their patients.

"It remains vital that access to the best quality palliative care is available in order to ensure that terminal suffering is properly managed."

Independent MSP Margo Macdonald has secured sufficient support to introduce the End of Life Choices Bill in the Scottish Parliament. The BMA remains opposed to the principles of this proposed legislation.

The motion debated was:

"That this Meeting would support a change in legislation to:

i) ensure that those accompanying the patient at an assisted death, but not actively participating, will not be subject to criminal prosecution;

ii) allow the choice of an assisted death by patients who are terminally ill and who have mental capacity.

Source
British Medical Association

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