The British Medical Association (BMA) has adopted a series of positions on assisted suicide, including a declaration that “assisted dying is not a medical treatment”.
Right to Life UK reports that the BMA – the professional association and trade union that represents and negotiates on behalf of doctors across the UK – agreed at its recent Annual Representative Meeting that any legislation permitting assisted suicide should make clear that “assisted dying is not a medical treatment” and that it “must not alter the fundamental principles of the NHS”.
Delegates also passed motions stating that any assisted suicide law must operate on an opt-in basis, ensuring that “no doctor would be required to have any involvement” with assisted suicide. In addition, the BMA said that legislation should contain explicit protections for medical students and doctors so they cannot be compelled to participate in any aspect of assisted suicide.
The issue of funding was also addressed during the meeting. The BMA agreed that any assisted suicide framework should be financed separately from core NHS services and “must not result in any de-prioritisation or reduction of funding for core general practice, mental health, or palliative care services”.