Poll: UK public concerned about coercion and profit in 'assisted dying'

For years, assisted suicide has been framed as a matter of compassion and personal choice, but a new national poll suggests the British public is far less comfortable with what that choice would require in practice.

Key Takeaways:

• A new poll in the UK revealed that the public largely opposes coercing medical professionals to participate in assisted death against their consciences.

• The poll also revealed a strong opposition to allowing for-profit companies to participate in assisted dying.

• A majority believes that hospices and care homes should be allowed to opt out from offering assisted death without penalty.

The Details:

Polling conducted by Whitestone Insight and released March 20 found strong opposition to two key elements of the UK’s proposed assisted dying bill: forcing medical professionals to participate and allowing private companies to profit from the practice.

The proposed legislation, known as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, would allow adults in England and Wales with a prognosis of six months or less to live to request medical assistance in ending their lives, provided they meet specific criteria and receive approval from multiple physicians.

According to a press release from Care Not Killing:

• 61% of respondents (a margin of 3 to 1) said doctors and medical staff should be legally free to refuse involvement in assisted suicide on ethical or religious grounds

• 24% disagreed

That concern extends beyond individuals to institutions. Nearly six in ten respondents (58%) said hospices and care homes should be allowed to opt out entirely without facing legal or financial penalties.

Public resistance was strongest, however, when the question turned to profit:

• Nearly three-quarters of respondents said they do not support allowing private companies to operate assisted suicide services.

• Opposition was even more pronounced among disabled individuals.

The data also points to a generational tension. Younger adults were more likely than older respondents to support requiring medical staff to participate.

The results come as Parliament continues to scrutinize the bill following the rejection of a similar proposal in Scotland.

The Bottom Line:

Dr. Gordon Macdonald of Care Not Killing said the findings reveal a disconnect between how the issue is presented and how it is perceived.

“The British public is profoundly uncomfortable with the idea of conscripting doctors into ending lives against their will,” he said. “Even more striking is the total rejection of the private sector making a profit from death.”