Doctors vote against assisted dying
The British Medical Association has changed its stance on euthanasia. There was considerable controversy last year when the BMA voted to take a 'neutral' stance on the question - providing ammunition to those supporting Lord Joffe's bill to change the law on assisted dying. As Michael Cook noted on spiked in August 2005, the BMA was effectively 'bounced' into its previous position by a few lofty members with a particular interest in the issue.
This change of position should be welcomed. Doctors should be there to treat the living, and allow them to be as comfortable as possible if their condition is incurable. Caught between moves to relax rules on euthanasia, and the fallout from serial killer Dr Harold Shipman, the normal, common sense application of humane medicine has been made increasingly difficult. Doctors shouldn't be neutral on this issue, and the law shouldn't be interfering in the final hours of the terminally ill.
How a minority in the BMA got their way on euthanasia, by Michael Cook
spiked-issue: Euthanasia