Assisted dying: medical professionals’ freedom of opinion must endure

Hurley and colleagues say it is a question of when, not if, assisted dying will be legalised in the UK.1 The legalisation of assisted suicide would be the death knell not only for many vulnerable patients but also for freedom of the medical profession because of the campaign for restrictions on conscientious objection.

Respect for others’ freedom was reflected in the recent BMA poll on assisted dying.2 Although 50% of …