Rapid responses are electronic comments to the editor. They enable our users
to debate issues raised in articles published on bmj.com. A rapid response
is first posted online. If you need the URL (web address) of an individual
response, simply click on the response headline and copy the URL from the
browser window. A proportion of responses will, after editing, be published
online and in the print journal as letters, which are indexed in PubMed.
Rapid responses are not indexed in PubMed and they are not journal articles.
The BMJ reserves the right to remove responses which are being
wilfully misrepresented as published articles or when it is brought to our
attention that a response spreads misinformation.
From March 2022, the word limit for rapid responses will be 600 words not
including references and author details. We will no longer post responses
that exceed this limit.
The word limit for letters selected from posted responses remains 300 words.
Gillian Leng's article is the 57th BMJ Confidential to be published, the first took place on 16th October, 2013. These doctors clearly are united in a passion for medicine, and represent a huge breadth of specialty and opinion. I felt that readers would be interested in their views on Assisted Dying.
To date, 30 are in favour of Assisted Dying, 18 are opposed, and 9 views were somewhat guarded or unclear. I propose that the views of these eminent professionals is reflective of a shift in medical opinion which seems to be catching up with the public view on this issue, where 70% are consistently in favour.
However, this year has again seen the RCGP, RCP, and the BMA maintaining their oppositional stance, and in the case of the RCP, where only 44% of respondents wished to maintain that opposition, compared with 58% in 2006.
The debate on Assisted Dying has moved forward this year, with the Supreme Court issuing a warning to Parliament that if it does not address this issue, then the courts will. In the House of Lords, the Falconer Bill has now moved forward from second reading to committee stage, gaining increasing support from peers as it progresses.
What will 2015 bring for our patients? We have seen that Dr. Kailash Chand, deputy chair of the BMA has spoken of "a change in law within 2 years". The BMA should now be congratulated on their announcement of an initiative to look closer at Assisted Dying, "by engaging directly with doctors and patients".
I believe that is time that our colleges should now reappraise their oppositional stance, and move forward to debate how Assisted Dying should be managed by our profession, ensuring that the best Codes of Conduct are put in place to protect patients and doctors wishing to participate on their behalf.
Competing interests:
Board member of Dignity n Dying, Committee member of Healthcare Professionals for Assisted Dying
Re: Gillian Leng: Pet hate is fixed opinions
Gillian Leng's article is the 57th BMJ Confidential to be published, the first took place on 16th October, 2013. These doctors clearly are united in a passion for medicine, and represent a huge breadth of specialty and opinion. I felt that readers would be interested in their views on Assisted Dying.
To date, 30 are in favour of Assisted Dying, 18 are opposed, and 9 views were somewhat guarded or unclear. I propose that the views of these eminent professionals is reflective of a shift in medical opinion which seems to be catching up with the public view on this issue, where 70% are consistently in favour.
However, this year has again seen the RCGP, RCP, and the BMA maintaining their oppositional stance, and in the case of the RCP, where only 44% of respondents wished to maintain that opposition, compared with 58% in 2006.
The debate on Assisted Dying has moved forward this year, with the Supreme Court issuing a warning to Parliament that if it does not address this issue, then the courts will. In the House of Lords, the Falconer Bill has now moved forward from second reading to committee stage, gaining increasing support from peers as it progresses.
What will 2015 bring for our patients? We have seen that Dr. Kailash Chand, deputy chair of the BMA has spoken of "a change in law within 2 years". The BMA should now be congratulated on their announcement of an initiative to look closer at Assisted Dying, "by engaging directly with doctors and patients".
I believe that is time that our colleges should now reappraise their oppositional stance, and move forward to debate how Assisted Dying should be managed by our profession, ensuring that the best Codes of Conduct are put in place to protect patients and doctors wishing to participate on their behalf.
Competing interests: Board member of Dignity n Dying, Committee member of Healthcare Professionals for Assisted Dying