22 June 2019
RCGP to Consult Members on Assisted Dying
The Royal College of General Practitioners will consult its 53,000 members as to what its stance should be on whether there should be a change in the law on assisted dying.
The decision was made by the College's governing Council, which met today.
The College last consulted its members on the issue in 2013. The result, announced in February 2014, was that the College should not change its stance, and as such, its current position is that it is opposed to any change in the law on assisted dying.
Further details of how we consult will be made public in due course.
Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the RCGP, said: "Assisted dying is an incredibly emotive issue that polarises opinions.
"It has been nearly six years since we asked our members as to whether we should support a change in the law on assisted dying – since then, it is possible that views within our membership have shifted.
"As such, RCGP Council has decided that the time is right to conduct this consultation, and we will be issuing further details of how we will do this in due course."
Further Information
RCGP Press office: 020 3188 7633/7574/7575/7494
Out of hours: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk
Notes
The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 53,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.