Thread: UK Law change on assisted suicide ?

The tide of opinion is turning methinks

Nurses have dropped their opposition to assisted suicide, as a new poll suggested strong public support for allowing doctors to help terminally ill people to die.

During a consultation, almost half (49%) of Royal College of Nursing members who responded said they supported assisted suicide, while 40% said they were against it.

The results prompted the nursing body to change its formal position from one of opposition, a view it has held since 2004, to a neutral stance.

Chief executive Dr Peter Carter said: "Assisted suicide is a complicated issue and this was reflected in the range and variety of responses that we received to our consultation.

"The split in responses shows that there is no overwhelming support among nurses for either opposing or supporting a change in the law on assisted suicide.

"We fully support the common themes that came through the consultation, namely maintaining the nurse-patient relationship, protecting vulnerable patients and making sure there is adequate investment in end-of-life care."

Meanwhile, a poll for The Times found almost three-quarters (74%) of people want doctors to be allowed to help terminally ill people to end their lives.

Six out of 10 people said they wanted friends and relatives to be able to help their dying loved ones to commit suicide, without fear of prosecution.

The Times poll found only 13% of people supported a blanket right to assisted suicide regardless of the individual's health and 85% said it should be legal only "in specific circumstances".

The RCN's decision comes weeks after the deaths of renowned conductor Sir Edward Downes and his wife, who travelled to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to die together on July 10.

Police said inquiries into the deaths of the couple, who had been battling serious health problems, are still continuing.

Debbie Purdy, who has multiple sclerosis, is waiting for a decision from the Law Lords on her bid to clarify the law on assisted suicide.

She is thinking about ending her life at a clinic abroad, but fears her husband may be charged on his return to the UK.