Harris: Assisted Dying - the fight goes on

12.06.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 29th Jun 2006

Dr Evan Harris MP, who proposed last year's successful motion calling on the BMA to adopt a neutral position on Doctor assisted dying, commented today, following the BMA's reversion to a policy of opposition:

"The fight for the right of terminally ill patients who have capacity to choose to end their suffering will continue both in the medical profession and in Parliament. Doctors are split and at the moment the religious lobby is winning the tactical battle, but society should not allow religious views on the sanctity of life to trump the right to autonomy of a patient who does not share those views."