PATIENT (ASSISTED DYING) BILL AND THE BMA

Early day motion 1333, tabled 4 June 2003 by Jim Dobbin (Labour/Co-operative). Signed by 44 members.

That this House welcomes the recent statements from the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Physicians opposing the Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill, a Bill that seeks to legalise assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia; notes the BMA's assertion that legalising euthanasia or assisted suicide would have a profound and detrimental effect on the doctor-patient relationship; further notes that the Royal College of Physicians states that the Bill is the wrong response to the problem of unalleviated suffering and is potentially dangerous; further notes a recent independent survey of doctors that showed a considerable majority oppose assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia and that almost three out of four doctors would refuse to perform such practices if they were legalised; and calls upon the Government to reiterate its opposition to the legalisation of assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia and to devote more resources to palliative and geriatric care.

Signatures by party: Conservative 15, Labour 14, Liberal Democrat 6, Labour/Co-operative 3, UUP 3, DUP 2, Independent Conservative 1.