Representatives at its annual conference have affirmed the BMA’s policy on assisted dying, calling for no doctor to be disadvantaged for choosing not to participate, should the law change.

Representatives passed a motion¹ proposed by the BMA’s Gateshead Division, that said “any future legislation on assisted dying [must] explicitly protect the rights of medical students and doctors to decline participation on grounds of conscience or professional judgement, ensuring that those who choose not to participate are safeguarded from discrimination, contractual disadvantage, or professional detriment”.

Parts of a separate motion² proposed by the South East Regional Council, which said that any assisted dying legislation “must not alter the fundamental principles of the NHS” were also voted through.

BMA medical ethics committee chair Dr Andrew Green said:

“The BMA remains neutral to the central question around assisted dying – that is whether the law should change or not. However, as the voice of doctors, who in turn are advocates for patients, where there are moves to change the law, we will not stay silent on an issue that will significantly impact the profession and those we care for.

“In recent years, where legislation is or was progressing, such as in Scotland, Jersey, the Isle of Man, and England and Wales, we have identified and successfully lobbied on key issues that we believe must be addressed if the law does change. This includes a number of areas covered by these motions, namely that any involvement from doctors in assisted dying should be on an opt-in basis and not a required part of their role.

“As legislation looks to return to Parliament for England and Wales, we will continue to represent doctors to ensure they are supported and protected alongside their patients on such an important issue.”

Ends

Notes to editors

The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.

1. Motion by GATESHEAD DIVISION: That this meeting affirms the existing policy of the UK LMC conference that any assisted dying service should be commissioned as a separate service and not part of core general practice, and the BMA Consultants Conference position that participation in assisted dying should fall outside consultants’ standard NHS contractual duties; and:-

i)                    believes that any doctor acting as a coordinating doctor must hold appropriate accreditation, including registration on a dedicated physician-assisted dying specialist register;

ii)                  calls for any future legislation on assisted dying to explicitly protect the rights of medical students and doctors to decline participation on grounds of conscience or professional judgement, ensuring that those who choose not to participate are safeguarded from discrimination, contractual disadvantage, or professional detriment;

iii)                insists that any practitioner participating in an assisted dying service must undertake appropriate specialist training and ongoing professional oversight, and affirms that students and resident doctors should not be required or expected to participate in assisted dying services;

iv)                calls for clear clinical standards, training requirements, and legal and regulatory protections to safeguard health and social care professionals and students from pressure, coercion, or discrimination related to participation in assisted dying, including robust protection for those exercising conscientious objection;

v)                  affirms that any assisted dying service must be separately and adequately resourced, and must not result in any de-prioritisation or reduction of funding for core general practice, mental health, or palliative care services.

CARRIED IN FULL

2. Motion by THE AGENDA COMMITTEE (TO BE PROPOSED BY SOUTH EAST COAST REGIONAL COUNCIL): That this meeting notes that there are ongoing attempts to legalise assisted dying across the United Kingdom and calls upon the BMA to lobby governments to ensure any legislation around assisted dying:-

i)                    specifies that assisted dying is not a medical treatment; CARRIED

ii)                  must not alter the fundamental principles of the NHS; CARRIED

iii)                is clear that oversight and regulation of assisted dying must be the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice rather than the Department of Health and Social Care, as it involves ending the life of a citizen prematurely. FELL

iv)                requires that there is an opt-in model for all providers, in particular that no doctor would be required to have any involvement with assisted dying; CARRIED

v)                  requires that resident doctors are to be specifically excluded from formal involvement in the assisted dying process; CARRIED

vi)                requires that any doctor participating in assisted dying must undergo specific training and national accreditation; CARRIED

vii) requires that the “co-ordinating doctor” for patients undertaking assisted dying must be on an assisted dying specialist register. CARRIED