Support for change in assisted suicide law

THERE is strong public support for a change in the law to allow doctors to help terminally ill people end their lives, a survey has found.

A Populus poll shows 74 per cent of people wanted the medical profession to be able to supervise assisted suicides. Support was said to be particularly strong among those aged 55 to 64.

The findings came as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) dropped its five-year opposition to the issue after consulting its members.

According to the poll, six out of ten people said they wanted friends and relatives to be able to help dying loved ones to commit suicide without fear of prosecution.

It also found 13 per cent of people supported a blanket right to assisted suicide regardless of the person's health, while 85 per cent said it should be legal only in specific circumstances.

Some 49 per cent of RCN members who responded to the consultation said they supported assisted suicide, while 40 per cent said they were against it.

The RCN had opposed assisted suicide, but changed that to a neutral stance last week.

Chief executive Dr Peter Carter said:

"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."

RCN council chairwoman Sandra James said: "Assisted suicide is an emotive issue and it is right that we consulted thoroughly with members before coming to our decision."

The RCN in Scotland plans to hold discussions with Independent MSP Margo MacDonald about her proposed bill on assisted suicide. MacDonald, who has Parkinson's disease, has been a long-time supporter of the "right to die" and is campaigning for changes in the law to allow assisted death.

• Populus interviewed 1,504 adults by telephone between 17 and 19 July.