Dr. Mary Neal:

On why there are high levels of conscientious objection to assisted dying, I think it just because of the cultural norm we have whereby the taking of life is wrong and this practice sits very close to that.

The British Medical Association, BMA, did a survey of doctors in 2020 and it was very notable that doctors were mostly opposed to being involved in assisted dying. Even those doctors who said they were not against a change in the law were against having to participate, and the specialisms that were most opposed were those that work with patients at the end of their lives, such as those in oncology, palliative care, geriatric medicine and general practice. There are high levels of objection in the healthcare professions. That study was just on doctors but it is important to bring in the views of other healthcare professionals as well.

I am not really aware of any examples where legislating for this has led to problems among healthcare workers. In the UK, we have not legislated for this yet but in respect of abortion, the conscience protection in the UK is quite limited. I am aware of healthcare workers who have left their jobs because they did not feel sufficiently protected, given the protection in the UK protects people only against having to be directly involved. In the case, therefore, of those whose roles would bring them into indirect involvement with the process, I know of people who have left their jobs in that context.