Euthanasia should not jeopardize good end-of-life care, say leading British doctors

Britain’s leading doctors have said legalizing euthanasia should not jeopardize good end-of-life care and that doctors should be free to decide whether to take part in a new service.

The chief medical officers and their deputies for the four British nations have signed a letter alongside the national medical director of NHS England offering advice to doctors in support of the euthanasia debate.

The letter, signed by England’s chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty and his counterparts, was published by the Department of Health and Social Care on Wednesday as a new bill was introduced in the House of Commons.

While the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would only apply to England and Wales, a Bill on assisted dying is also currently before the Scottish Parliament.

The letter acknowledged the “broad range of considered views on this issue (euthanasia) within the profession and society” and noted that many physicians had “strong, informed opinions on this important issue.”

It said it was “entirely reasonable for any doctor, alone or in combination with others, to express their opinion and the public would expect this.”

However, medical leaders warned against identifying patients without consent, involving patients directly in the debate and insinuating that a doctor or group was speaking for the medical profession rather than expressing their personal views.

Signatories included Professor Sir Michael McBride, CMO for Northern Ireland, Professor Sir Gregor Smith, CMO for Scotland, Professor Sir Frank Atherton, CMO for Wales, and NHS England’s national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis She announced the decision on euthanasia applies “to society as a whole” and must be “expressed by Parliament”.

However, they warned that the provision of good end-of-life care must not be undermined at any time, adding that health workers can decide whether to participate in euthanasia.

They said: “Whatever Parliament decides, we believe the medical profession will agree on two things: that we must not undermine the provision of good end-of-life care for all, including the excellent work of palliative care professionals; (and) that individual physicians and other health care workers should be able to exercise their freedom of conscience, as is currently the case, for example, with abortion care.”

In 2021, doctors’ union the British Medical Association (BMA) changed its position on euthanasia from opposition to neutrality.

The BMA has previously outlined that it believes any legislation allowing physician-assisted dying should be based on an opt-in model, where only doctors who positively choose to participate should be able to do so .

Details of Labor MP Kim Leadbeater’s bill are not expected to be revealed until closer to November 29, when it is due to be debated for the first time.