UK Royal College of GP's wrongly went neutral on assisted suicide.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.

Recently the UK Royal College of General Practitioners (GP'S) changed their position on assisted suicide from being opposed to being neutral on assisted dying. This is important because the UK parliament is debating a bill, sponsored by Kim Leadbeater (MP), to legalize assisted suicide.

On March 14, The Royal College of GP's released the results of a survey of GP's and based on the results The Royal College of GP's claimed that the membership wanted to change their position from opposed to assisted dying to neutral.

In a letter to The Times that was published on March 18, more than 260 GP's argue that the survey results did not support a change in position, but in fact represented a stronger position opposing assisted death than the previous survey in 2019. 

The Our Duty of Care letter stated:

We are GPs disappointed by the Royal College of General Practitioners’ (RCGP) move from opposition to “neither supporting nor opposing assisted dying being legal,” following a member survey.

This is despite a rise in the proportion saying the RCGP should remain opposed (47.6%, up from 46%) and a decline in support for law change (33.7%, down from 41.1%).

Even those who favour assisted dying in principle may not in practice, in the context of today’s pressured NHS, and may be unwilling to be personally involved in assisting deaths. The latest survey did not explore GPs’ views unlike the more detailed 2019 RCGP survey which found only 7% of GPs thought they should prescribe lethal drugs, and only 16% felt GPs should take responsibility for confirming eligibility for assisted dying. It is likely that similar practical opposition persists.

We believe assisted dying undermines public understanding of and access to palliative care, puts vulnerable populations at risk of self-coercion or abuse, and drives societal biases that devalue certain lives. We find assisted suicide incompatible with our values as doctors: to promote and preserve life, and to be worthy of our patients’ trust. We will not be involved in its provision and remain committed to easing suffering at the end of life through proactive, compassionate and holistic palliative care. We regret the RCGP’s stance and find it grossly misrepresentative of GPs’ attitudes to assisted dying.

The letter clearly explains that the 2019 GP's survey indicated that: 

46% opposed assisted suicide, 41.1% supported assisted suicide and the others were neutral.

The 2025 GP's survey indicated that: 

47.6% opposed assisted suicide, 33.7% supported assisted suicide and the others were neutral.

In other words, opposition to assisted suicide increased and support for assisted suicide decreased. They cannot justify going neutral.