Good afternoon friend,
Today, the British Medical Association (BMA) finally dropped its longstanding opposition to assisted dying. This is a significant milestone for the campaign.
It’s vital that MPs know about this landmark decision ahead of Baroness Meacher’s Assisted Dying Bill being debated on the 22nd October. Please, will you contact your MP now and make sure they are aware of this vital update?
The last time there was an Assisted Dying Bill in the House of Commons, the BMA’s opposition was a substantial barrier to law change. Many MPs cited it as a key reason for their opposition. But until last year, the BMA had never, not once, surveyed its members for their views on assisted dying.
We knew many doctors wanted to stand up for their patients’ right to have choice at the end of life, yet this view wasn’t being represented anywhere in their leading professional bodies. Further, the BMA’s policy of opposition made many doctors feel like they couldn’t be honest about their views and prevented respectful debate.
In 2019, Dignity in Dying board member, Dr Jacky Davis, proposed a motion for a survey of BMA members. The results spoke for themselves. Half of all doctors were personally supportive of law change and two-thirds wanted the BMA to drop their opposition on the issue to better represent the views of its members.
Your MP needs to know about this watershed moment for the campaign. Please, tell them about this win today.
I’d like to congratulate the BMA for listening to its members and being prepared to engage constructively in the debate. Adopting a neutral position allows it to account for a full diversity of views among its membership and breaks the silence that has persisted for too long on this issue.
It’s been a long road to get here - and we’ve only made it so far thanks to your dedication and commitment. The coming weeks and months will be among the busiest and most ambitious in our history but I want to take a breath here to express my sincerest thanks for believing in our mission and for standing with us when we need it most.
Thank you. Together, we will change the law.
Keep up the amazing work,
Sarah Wootton
Chief Executive
Dignity in Dying
P.S. It only takes a moment to send a quick email to your MP letting them know about this historic milestone for the campaign.
