Letters
Voluntary assisted death: ensuring access and safety
What, if any, should be the role of doctors in assisted dying?
BMJ 2024; 387 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.q2726 (Published 09 December 2024) Cite this as: BMJ 2024;387:q2726
- H Lucy Thomas, consultant in public health and specialty doctor in palliative medicine
- Hertfordshire, UK
- lucy.thomas21{at}nhs.net
The BMJ’s coverage on assisted dying1 ignores the key question for the medical profession: what, if any, should be the role of doctors?
In Leadbeater’s bill our role is central and decisive: not only do medical criteria define what constitutes an acceptable reason to end one’s life, but doctors are both the arbiters and administrators. This has several deeply problematic implications.
This bill would legally require doctors to treat a patient …
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