RCP: We cannot support the bill

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has said it "cannot support legal change on assisted dying”, being debated in the House of Lords today.

A survey of its members finds 73 per cent oppose the assisted dying bill, with the highest opposition amongst those in palliative care, of whom 95.4 per cent were against the proposals.

But the RCP acknowledged that a significant minority of its membership supported the bill (26 per cent), and that "there remain many shortcomings in the provision of palliative care".

It added: "As previously stated, irrespective of whether the present bill is enacted or not, it should be seen as a further signal to campaign for better care for dying patients.

"This should include an extension of palliative care services and more discussion of end of life issues in the face of changing values, ethnic diversity and technological advance."