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I question Dr Phillips's claim that he wants the debate on assisted dying to continue given he is 'appalled' to be presented with the arguments of people he disagrees with.
Regardless of his own personal views on the issue (1) - our profession must ready itself for the possibility of law change across the British Isles. The BMJ itself recognises overwhelming public support for assisted dying (2) and it is clear that politicians are catching up with their constituents.(3)
Healthcare Professionals for Assisted Dying seeks to learn from jurisdictions where meaningful end-of-life choice is already in place and we do not shy away from acknowledging the dangers and cruelty created by the ban on assisted dying in this country. I would encourage open-minded doctors who wish to know how law change might impact them to join us. (4)
Dr Jacky Davis
Chair, Healthcare Professionals for Assisted Dying
Board member, Dignity in Dying
I was appalled to find a pamphlet promoting assisted dying enclosed with this week’s BMJ. The document put out by Health Professionals for Assisted Dying presented their point of view with which I and many colleagues strongly disagree. I was not persuaded by the smooth-talking Australian and American doctors saying how well they were doing with assisted dying. Then there was an unsubstantiated statement ‘80% of the public support a change in the law.’
Let the public and medical debate continue I say.
Some of the secular arguments against assisted dying are:
• There is no autonomy for the patient in assisted dying as so many others are affected by the decision and its consequences.
• Our most vulnerable members of society would feel a burden and of little value if assisted dying became an expected course of action for those who are frail or terminally ill.
• As with abortion law, mission creep in assisted dying has occurred in several countries such as Belgium where children and those lacking mental capacity are subjected to ‘euthanasia’.
Dr Peter Phillips FRCP
Semi-retired Consultant Geriatrician and Stroke Physician
Ipswich
Re: From the eight billion population crisis to unnecessary hospital testing: moving beyond benign uproar
Dear Editor
I question Dr Phillips's claim that he wants the debate on assisted dying to continue given he is 'appalled' to be presented with the arguments of people he disagrees with.
Regardless of his own personal views on the issue (1) - our profession must ready itself for the possibility of law change across the British Isles. The BMJ itself recognises overwhelming public support for assisted dying (2) and it is clear that politicians are catching up with their constituents.(3)
Healthcare Professionals for Assisted Dying seeks to learn from jurisdictions where meaningful end-of-life choice is already in place and we do not shy away from acknowledging the dangers and cruelty created by the ban on assisted dying in this country. I would encourage open-minded doctors who wish to know how law change might impact them to join us. (4)
Dr Jacky Davis
Chair, Healthcare Professionals for Assisted Dying
Board member, Dignity in Dying
(1) https://www.cmf.org.uk/resources/publications/content/?context=article&i...
(2) https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2128
(3) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-62821221
(4) https://www.dignityindying.org.uk/hpad/
Competing interests: Chair Healthcare Professionals for Assisted Dying/Board member Dignity in Dying