Overview
- The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) voted to adopt a neutral position on the legalisation of assisted dying after consulting its members.
- Previously opposed since 2005, the RCGP's council decided with 61% of votes to neither support nor oppose a change in the law.
- A survey of 8,779 members revealed divided opinions: 47.6% supported opposition, 33.7% favored legalisation, and 13.6% preferred neutrality.
- The shift aligns the RCGP with other medical bodies, including the British Medical Association and Royal College of Physicians, which have also adopted neutrality.
- The decision comes as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill undergoes scrutiny in the UK Parliament, with votes expected in England, Wales, and Scotland in the coming weeks.