Editor—We challenge Sommerville's view that it is acceptable for the BMA to adopt a neutral stance on assisted dying.1 This reversal in BMA policy will considerably strengthen the position of those wishing to change the law.
We believe that the proposed legislation allowing assisted suicide will fundamentally affect the practice of all doctors and it is therefore imperative that the BMA should reflect the genuine view of its membership. Both the Association for Palliative Medicine and Royal College of General Practitioners made strenuous efforts to ascertain their members' views. This is in sharp contrast to the BMA, where a tiny majority (11 delegates) effected a major shift in policy without reasonable attempts to consult the membership.
The association's survey found that over 90% of practising palliative medicine physicians opposed a change in the law.2 The royal college also supported a position of opposition.3 As the ethics committee of the Association for Palliative Medicine, we can be confident that we continue to represent the views of our members in opposing the proposed legislation on assisted dying.
On behalf of the ethics committee of the Association for Palliative Medicine: Andrew Thorns, Colin Campbell, Eleanor Grogan, Claire Stark Toller, and Tim Harlow
Competing interests: None declared.
References
- 1.Sommerville A. Changes in BMA policy on assisted dying. BMJ 2005;331: 686-8. (24 September.) [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Memorandum by the Association for Palliative Medicine. Select Committee on the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill. www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200405/ldselect/ldasdy/86/4102110.htm (accessed 29 Sep 2005).
- 3.RCGP statement on assisted dying. 21 September 2005. www.rcgp.org.uk/press/2005/0067.asp (accessed 28 Sep 2005).