The British Medical Association (BMA) will remain officially opposed to assisted suicide after an attempt to force the association into a neutral position on the issue failed in June.
A motion (No.80) had been tabled by the South Central Regional Council at the BMA’s annual representatives meeting, calling for the BMA to move to a position of neutrality on assisted suicide. Following a vote, the motion was comprehensively defeated after 198 delegates, some 63%, opposed the motion while 115 voted in favour of it.
Public policy charity CARE, a campaign group opposed to assisted suicide, welcomed the outcome of the debate. CARE Chief Executive Nola Leach said: ‘I am delighted this attempt to force the BMA into a position of neutrality on assisted suicide has failed.’