Royal College of Anaesthetists moves to a neutral position on assisted dying/assisted suicide

In July 2024, the Royal College of Anaesthetists conducted a survey to understand our members’ views on the College’s position on assisted dying/assisted suicide. In doing so, Council and the Board of Trustees understood from the outset that this is a sensitive subject on which members would have differing and strongly held views.

The survey was conducted on our behalf by independent research agency Research by Design and sent to all members of the College and the Faculty of Pain Medicine. We received 4,902 responses, representing a 23% response rate.

In response to the question: Should the RCoA maintain its current position of ‘no stance’ on assisted dying/assisted suicide, 54% of respondents said no, 34% said yes and 12% said they didn’t know.

The survey responses were independently analysed and reported by Research by Design. Having discussed the report at the November meeting, Council has taken the decision to change the College’s position on assisted dying/assisted suicide from ‘no stance’ to ‘neutral’, on the basis that a neutral position more closely aligns with the views of a majority of respondents.

A neutral position means that the College will neither actively support nor actively oppose a change in the law regarding assisted dying/assisted suicide. It does, however, allow the College to engage in discussion on the topic, which our previous ‘no stance’ position did not. A neutral position means we can represent our members’ views and concerns in response to any future legislative proposals or where our expertise is sought.

In making this decision, we recognise that our members hold different views about why they believe the College should change its position and that a proportion of respondents favoured retaining the ‘no stance’ position.

The survey allowed members to give free text responses to elaborate on the reasons for their answers, many of which are very detailed. We have therefore commissioned Research by Design to undertake some additional analysis of the free text responses so that we can gain a greater understanding of our members’ views. We will publish this additional analysis once available.

We have published the report by Research by Design so members can read the full findings.   

Key findings

The survey first asked members for their views on whether the College should maintain its position of ‘no stance’ on assisted dying/assisted suicide.

1. Should the Royal College of Anaesthetists maintain its current position of “no stance” on Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide?

• No – 54%
• Yes – 34%
• Don’t know – 12%

The survey then asked members for their views on what the College’s position should be if it were to change its current position of ‘no stance’. Members were asked for their views on a change in the law regarding two scenarios:

• Allowing a doctor to prescribe drugs so that an eligible patient can self-administer them to end their own life.
• Allowing a doctor to administer drugs to end an eligible patient’s life.

2. What should the position of the Royal College of Anaesthetists be on a change in the law allowing doctors to prescribe drugs for eligible patients to self-administer to end their own life?

• 49% were supportive (the RCoA should actively support attempts to change the law)
• 29% were neutral (the RCoA should neither actively support nor actively oppose attempts to change the law)
• 17% were opposed (the RCoA should actively oppose attempts to change the law)
• 5% were undecided

3. What should the position of the Royal College of Anaesthetists be on a change in the law allowing doctors to administer drugs with the intention of ending an eligible patient's life?

• 40% were supportive (the RCoA should actively support attempts to change the law)
• 29% were neutral (the RCoA should neither actively support nor actively oppose attempts to change the law)
• 23% were opposed (the RCoA should actively oppose attempts to change the law)
• 8% were undecided