BMA Bias Beyond Belief - Doctors do not support assisted dying
BMA Bias Beyond Belief - Doctors do not support assisted dying
It is concerning that strong pro-euthanasia bias still seems evident
in the BMJ, as shown in Dyer’s article.
The only figure quoted in Dyer’s article was a “YouGov Survey for
Dignity in Dying (formerly the Voluntary Euthanasia Society) found 76% of
people were in favour of assisted dying as long as safeguards were in
place.”
Since this poll was commissioned by the Voluntary Euthanasia Society one
wonders if there may have been a degree of bias.
Yet a few weeks ago the RCP reported on a poll where respondents were
asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the following statement:
(We) believe that with improvements in palliative care, good clinical care
can be provided within existing legislation and that patients can die with
dignity. A change in legislation is not needed.
1,327 (26.0%) stated that they believe a change in the law is needed and
3,741 (73.2%) that a change in the law is not needed.
Responses against change were highest in the specialty of palliative
medicine (95.4% of 281 responses) but no specialty group submitting more
than 50 returns fell below 65% in opposing a change in the law. Specialty
representation appeared broadly representative of practising physicians.
The same question was asked to the 23,000 members of the RCGP in September
2005 and they reported
‘Overwhelming support was given by RCGP members’ to the following
position statement;
“The RCGP believes that with current improvements in palliative care, good
clinical care can be provided within existing legislation and that
patients can die with dignity. A change in legislation is not needed.”’
The question elicited the same result in a poll of Doctors.Net UK, with
126,000 UK Doctor members, with 67% voting in favour of no change in
legislation.
Geriatricians, Psychiatrists and Palliative Medicine Doctors all have
clearly opposed the Bill.
In September 2005 Delamothe wrote a BMJ editorial which elicited
almost 100 responses in the week after publication, many raising concerns
about pro-euthanasia bias.
It seems the BMJ is still very much out of step with UK doctors.
1.Dyer C UK House of Lords rejects physician assisted suicide
BMJ 2006; 332: 1169
Rapid Response:
BMA Bias Beyond Belief - Doctors do not support assisted dying
BMA Bias Beyond Belief - Doctors do not support assisted dying
It is concerning that strong pro-euthanasia bias still seems evident
in the BMJ, as shown in Dyer’s article.
The only figure quoted in Dyer’s article was a “YouGov Survey for
Dignity in Dying (formerly the Voluntary Euthanasia Society) found 76% of
people were in favour of assisted dying as long as safeguards were in
place.”
Since this poll was commissioned by the Voluntary Euthanasia Society one
wonders if there may have been a degree of bias.
Yet a few weeks ago the RCP reported on a poll where respondents were
asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the following statement:
(We) believe that with improvements in palliative care, good clinical care
can be provided within existing legislation and that patients can die with
dignity. A change in legislation is not needed.
1,327 (26.0%) stated that they believe a change in the law is needed and
3,741 (73.2%) that a change in the law is not needed.
Responses against change were highest in the specialty of palliative
medicine (95.4% of 281 responses) but no specialty group submitting more
than 50 returns fell below 65% in opposing a change in the law. Specialty
representation appeared broadly representative of practising physicians.
The same question was asked to the 23,000 members of the RCGP in September
2005 and they reported
‘Overwhelming support was given by RCGP members’ to the following
position statement;
“The RCGP believes that with current improvements in palliative care, good
clinical care can be provided within existing legislation and that
patients can die with dignity. A change in legislation is not needed.”’
The question elicited the same result in a poll of Doctors.Net UK, with
126,000 UK Doctor members, with 67% voting in favour of no change in
legislation.
Geriatricians, Psychiatrists and Palliative Medicine Doctors all have
clearly opposed the Bill.
In September 2005 Delamothe wrote a BMJ editorial which elicited
almost 100 responses in the week after publication, many raising concerns
about pro-euthanasia bias.
It seems the BMJ is still very much out of step with UK doctors.
1.Dyer C UK House of Lords rejects physician assisted suicide
BMJ 2006; 332: 1169
2.http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news/news.asp?PR_id=310
3.http://www.rcgp.org.uk/press/2005/0067.asp Accessed 22.12.05 ,
4.http://www.doctors.net.uk/login/frameset.aspx?632741580153987675
5. Delamothe T A time to die BMJ 2005; 331
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests