Good afternoon ,
Following a survey of members, the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) has taken the extraordinary decision to remain opposed to assisted dying. Ignoring the fact that 51% of voters preferred the College take a supportive or neutral stance, their Council upheld the status quo.
In spite of this, the result of this poll represents the highest proportion advocating for outright support ever seen from a medical organisation's survey of its members. The RCGP is out of touch. We must prove that to them by re-doubling our efforts to reach the 160,000 doctors currently being surveyed by the British Medical Association (BMA) - but we need your help to do that.
At the bottom of this email is a message you can send to any doctors you know (like your GP) to let them know how important it is they vote in the BMA’s survey. We must do everything possible to make sure doctors have heard our arguments and the needs of dying people by the time the poll closes next week.
Please do what you can right now - make sure the doctors in your life know about the BMA survey, know your stance and the evidence supporting it.
Keep fighting,
HERE IS A SUGGESTED MESSAGE TO SEND TO A DOCTOR YOU KNOW:
I'm writing today to remind you that the BMA survey on Physician Assisted Dying is open for another week - until the 27th February.
I appreciate doctors have different views on this issue, but I urge you to vote for the BMA adopt a position of neutrality on the subject of assisted dying. A neutral position allows everyone’s views - patients' and doctors' - to be respected. This issue is one that will, at some point, affect every one of your patients, so it’s important you have your say in the survey.
If you are a BMA member, you should have received an email containing the link to vote. You can also find out more about how to participate at www.bma.org.uk/pad.
I believe that doctors have an obligation to contribute their expertise to this debate, regardless of their views on this matter. The BMA’s current position of opposition prevents this, shutting down conversations and preventing doctors from meaningfully considering any proposed assisted dying legislation.
Thank you for your time.
Yours sincerely,
