A survey of palliative medicine doctors working in Scotland has shown that most would refuse to participate in assisted dying if it were legalised and believe that the introduction of assisted dying would have an overwhelmingly negative impact on the care of patients with life-limiting illnesses.
The Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland surveyed palliative care doctors working in Scotland in 2022 for their views on assisted dying.
- Doctors surveyed were almost unanimous (98%) in stating that assisted dying should not be part of mainstream healthcare.
- 95% of doctors surveyed would not prescribe lethal drugs for an assisted death.
- 97% would not administer the drugs for an assisted death.
- 86% believe that assisted dying would have a negative or very negative impact on palliative care services.
- 88% did not think that the proposed legal safeguards would prevent harm to vulnerable patients.
- 78% believe that assisted dying would have a negative or very negative impact on their conversations with patients and families.