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Assisted dying | The BMJ
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id="main-content"></a> <div class="region region-content"> <section id="block-system-main" class="block block-system clearfix"> <div class="panel-display row bootstrap-twocol-8-4" > <div class="panel-panel column-container col-xs-12 col-sm-8 col-md-8 col-lg-8"> <div class="panel-pane pane-node-title" id="bmj-resources-disclaimer-pane" > <div class="pane-content"> <h1>Assisted dying</h1> </div> </div> <div class="panel-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-node-body" > <div class="pane-content"> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><style> table{ width: 100%; border-collapse:collapse; } td{ text-align: justify; padding: 10px; }de hr { height: 1px; color: #123455; background-color: #123455; border: none; } .responsive { width: 100%; height: auto; } .center { display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 50%; } * { box-sizing: border-box; } /* Create two unequal columns that floats next to each other */ .column { float: left; padding: 10px; } .left { width: 40%; } .right { width: 60%; } .left2 { width: 60%; } .right2 { width: 40%; } /* Clear floats after the columns */ .row:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } @media screen and (max-width: 600px) { .column { width: 100%; } } </style><p><em>The BMJ</em> has provided a platform for debate on assisted dying (or assisted suicide, according to some opponents of the option) for two decades. The issue provokes strong feelings, among doctors as well as the public worldwide. Proponents of physician assisted dying, including <em>The BMJ</em>, claim that access to the option gives dying people choice and control over their death and can prevent intolerable and intractable suffering. But opponents fear consequences for vulnerable people, for society, and for the medical profession when doctors are permitted actively to induce death. <em>The BMJ</em> thinks it likely to be more <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2128">a question of when, not if, assisted dying is legalised in the UK</a>, and that all doctors should now engage with the debate.</p> <p><em>The BMJ</em> continues to strive to represent all voices in the debate.</p> <hr> <p><strong>Definitions under dispute</strong> </p> <p>Proponents and opponents of assisted dying do not all agree on the terminology used to describe the process.</p> <p>Assisted dying—Proponents of the Assisted Dying Bill 2015 in England and Wales argue that this term best describes prescribing life ending drugs for terminally ill, mentally competent adults to administer themselves after meeting strict legal safeguards. Assisted dying, as defined like this, is legal and regulated in the US states of California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, and in Washington, DC. In 2017, similar legislation was passed in Victoria, Australia.</p> <p>Assisted suicide—This term is often intended to describe giving assistance to die to people with long term progressive conditions and other people who are not dying, in addition to patients with a terminal illness. The drugs are self administered. Some opponents of assisted dying do not accept that it is different from assisted suicide. Assisted suicide, as defined like this, is permitted in Switzerland.</p> <p>Voluntary euthanasia—This term describes a doctor directly administering life ending drugs to a patient who has given consent. Voluntary euthanasia is permitted in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. In 2016, Canada legalised both voluntary euthanasia and assisted dying for people whose death is “reasonably foreseeable,” in what it calls “medical assistance in dying.”</p> <hr></hr> <h2>2024</h2> <div class="row"> <div class="column left"> <p><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/8447" target="new"><img src="https://www.bmj.com/sites/default/files/attachments/resources/2024/11/ad_cover.jpg" alt="Vol 387, issue 8447" /></p> </div> <div class="column right"> <p> <p/> <p><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/8447" target="new"> <p><strong></p> <p>Volume 387, issue 8447</strong></a></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2399" target="new">Voluntary assisted death: how to ensure access and safety</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2382" target="new">Assisted dying: balancing safety with access</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2385" target="new">Assisted dying laws around the world</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2355" target="new">What is it like for doctors working under assisted dying laws?</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2352" target="new">Healthcare professionals must feel able to engage with the debate on safe assisted dying law</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2348" target="new">If assisted dying is legalised, can we safeguard against misuse?</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2351" target="new">Palliative medicine doctors in the UK have a plurality of views on assisted dying, but you wouldn’t know it</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2501" target="new">If I were still an MP I’d be voting against Kim Leadbeater’s bill on assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2314" target="new">Protesters call for assisted dying law</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2500" target="new">Assisted dying bill: Two doctors would need to approve action</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2161" target="new">Assisted dying: Disability advocates launch legal challenge to Canada’s law</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/386/bmj.q2029" target="new">Assisted dying: Quebec allows advance directives, defying federal ban</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/386/bmj.q1994" target="new">Assisted dying: Citizens’ jury calls for law change in England</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2358" target="new">Conscientious objection: will doctors be able to opt out of assisted dying?</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/386/bmj.q1659" target="new">Isle of Man’s parliament votes to progress Assisted Dying Bill</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2288" target="new">Assisted dying: Doctors told they can voice personal opinions, as landmark bill is introduced</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2191" target="new">MPs set for historic vote on bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj.q297" target="new">Assisted dying framed as true love</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2351" target="new">Palliative medicine doctors in the UK have a plurality of views on assisted dying, but you wouldn’t know it</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/385/bmj.q982" target="new">MPs debate assisted dying amid protests by both sides</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/385/bmj.q806" target="new">Disability community feels ignored in Canada’s assisted dying expansion</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/385/bmj.q849" target="new">French government gives go-ahead to voluntary assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/385/bmj.q792" target="new">A new bill could legalise assisted dying in Scotland</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj.q773" target="new">Scotland moves a step closer to legalising assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2352" target="new">I’m a nurse and Isle of Man politician: healthcare professionals must feel able to engage with the debate on safe assisted dying law</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj.q271" target="new">Canada shelves plan to allow medically assisted dying for people with mental illness</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj.q533" target="new">Parliament cannot ignore moves to change law on assisted dying in parts of the UK and crown dependencies, say MPs</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2423" target="new">How has medical assistance in dying changed palliative care?</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/385/bmj.q967" target="new">Quebec man chooses assisted death after emergency department stay leaves him with agonising pressure ulcer</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj.q308" target="new">A television drama examines illegal assisted suicide and raises questions about legalisation</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/386/bmj.q2118" target="new">Arrests are made following woman’s death linked to “suicide capsule” in Switzerland</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj.p1208" target="new">Assisted dying: MPs hear evidence from doctors as Westminster mulls changes</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj.p1361" target="new">Assisted dying: Quebec extends eligibility to cover severe disability and allow procedure in outdoor spaces</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj.p1397" target="new">Royal College of Surgeons of England moves to neutral position on assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj.p1968" target="new">Breaching the stalemate on assisted dying: it’s time to move beyond a medicalised approach</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj.p2023" target="new">Assisted dying: Doctors in Quebec aren’t bending rules, says medical leader</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/383/bmj.p2543" target="new">Isle of Man votes to legalise assisted dying</a></li> </ul> <h2>2023</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj.p1208" target="new">Assisted dying: MPs hear evidence from doctors as Westminster mulls changes</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj.p1361" target="new">Assisted dying: Quebec extends eligibility to cover severe disability and allow procedure in outdoor spaces</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj.p1397" target="new">Royal College of Surgeons of England moves to neutral position on assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj.p1968" target="new">Breaching the stalemate on assisted dying: it’s time to move beyond a medicalised approach</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj.p2023" target="new">Assisted dying: Doctors in Quebec aren’t bending rules, says medical leader</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/383/bmj.p2543" target="new">Isle of Man votes to legalise assisted dying</a></li> </ul> <h2>2022</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj.o2205" target="new">Assisted dying: Legislation has widespread support in Scotland</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1014" target="new">Some groups of terminally ill patients are twice as likely to die by suicide, data show</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/379/bmj.o3023" target="new">Assisted deaths: Quebec passes Netherlands to lead world in number per capita</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/379/bmj.o2621" target="new">Voluntarily stopping eating and drinking—lack of guidance is failing patients and clinicians</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o277" target="new">The origins, development, and context of the Lancet Commission on the Value of Death</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o393" target="new">The gift of death</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o67" target="new">Colombia allows euthanasia of two people with non-terminal illness</a></li> </ul> <h2>2021</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2262" target="new">BMA moves to neutral position on assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2128" target="new">Assisted dying: a question of when, not if</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2206" target="new">It’s time for all doctors to engage on assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2075" target="new">Doctors’ organisations, neutrality, and the assisted dying debate</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2135" target="new">Euthanasia and assisted dying: the illusion of autonomy—an essay by Ole Hartling</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2094" target="new">There is nothing holy about agony: religious people and leaders support assisted dying too</a></li> <li><a href="https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/09/08/assisted-dying-we-must-prioritise-research/" target="new">Assisted dying: we must prioritise research</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2200" target="new">Assisted dying around the world</a></li> <li><a href="https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/09/08/i-want-choice-and-control-over-how-i-manage-the-dying-process/" target="new">I want choice and control over how I manage the dying process</a></li> <li><a href="https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/09/08/it-is-more-vital-than-ever-that-we-have-data-to-support-the-debate-on-assisted-dying/" target="new">It is more vital than ever that we have data to support the debate on assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2012" target="new">Will Scotland become the first part of the UK to legalise assisted dying?</a></li> <li><a href="https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/02/09/if-the-courts-wont-act-parliament-must-reconsider-the-case-for-assisted-dying/" target="new">If the courts won’t act, parliament must reconsider the case for assisted dying</a></li> </ul> <h2>2020</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/01/22/richard-smith-learning-from-canada-about-assisted-dying/">Learning from Canada about assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/02/07/so-many-christians-support-legal-assisted-dying-not-because-they-see-life-as-unimportant-but-because-compassion-demands-it/">Former archbishop says Christians should support legal physician assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/02/07/iona-heath-and-ole-hartling-assisted-dying-a-form-of-abandonment/">Assisted dying—a form of abandonment?</a></li> <li><a href="https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/10/01/zoe-norris-last-rights-makes-the-case-for-assisted-dying/">“Last Rights” makes the case for assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/10/21/doctors-views-on-assisted-dying-why-has-the-rcgp-gone-rogue/">Doctors’ views on assisted dying: why has the RCGP gone rogue?</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m2919">Demedicalisation: radically reframing the assisted dying debate—an essay by Lucy Thomas</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m646">Assisted dying: your vote counts</a></li> </ul> <h2>2019</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/364/bmj.l576">Assisted dying: the debate continues</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/364/bmj.l412">Why I decided to provide assisted dying: it is truly patient centred care</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/364/bmj.l415">How the Canadian Medical Association found a third way to support all its members on assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2019/02/06/disabled-people-like-me-fear-legal-assisted-suicide-it-suggests-that-some-lives-are-less-worth-living/">Disabled people like me fear legal assisted suicide: it suggests that some lives are less worth living</a></li> <li><a href="https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2019/01/30/religious-and-non-religious-people-share-objections-to-assisted-suicide/">Religious and non-religious people share objections to assisted suicide</a></li> <li><a href="https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2019/09/25/arun-bhaskar-the-inescapable-truth-palliative-care-is-not-enough-we-can-and-should-legislate-for-assisted-dying/">The inescapable truth: palliative care is not enough—we can and should legislate for assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2019/03/15/why-were-campaigning-for-broader-criteria-for-assisted-dying-in-the-uk/">Why we’re campaigning for broader criteria for assisted dying in the UK</a></li> <li><a href="https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2019/03/21/we-risk-our-careers-if-we-discuss-assisted-dying-say-uk-palliative-care-consultants/">We risk our careers if we discuss assisted dying, say UK palliative care consultants</a></li> <li><a href="https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2019/07/03/andrew-goddard-as-rcp-president-i-stand-by-colleges-recent-survey-on-assisted-dying-and-wish-to-set-the-record-straight/">As RCP president I stand by the college’s recent survey on assisted dying and wish to set the record straight </a></li> <li><a href="https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2019/09/25/katherine-sleeman-and-iain-chalmers-assisted-dying%e2%81%a0-restricting-access-to-people-with-fewer-than-six-months-to-live-is-discriminatory/">Assisted dying—restricting access to people with fewer than six months to live is discriminatory</a></li> </ul> <h2>2018</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/361/bmj.k2236">News: Assisted dying: Guernsey rejects proposal to move towards legalisation</a></li> <li><a href="http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2018/02/15/richard-hurley-end-of-life-care-the-assisted-dying-debate-continues/">BMJ Opinion: End of life care—the assisted dying debate continues</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/360/bmj.k593">Editor's choice: Assisted dying: it’s time to poll UK doctors</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/360/bmj.k301">Personal view: Most UK doctors support assisted dying, a new poll shows: the BMA’s opposition does not represent members</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/360/bmj.k544">Commentary: Palliative care and assisted dying are not mutually exclusive</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/360/bmj.k503">Feature: Assisted dying in US and Canada: controversy subsides after legalisation</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/360/bmj.k116">Essay: How it feels to help a terminally ill patient to die a dignified death</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/360/bmj.k542">Patient Commentary: “I don’t want to go to Switzerland, and I don’t want to attempt suicide”</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/360/bmj.k562">Head to head: Should doctor assisted dying be legal?</a></li> <li><a href="http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2018/03/08/katherine-sleeman-assisted-dying-how-safe-is-safe-enough/">BMJ Opinion: Assisted dying—how safe is safe enough?</a></li> </ul> <h2>2017</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/358/bmj.j3566">Personal view: Why I’ve changed my views on assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/357/bmj.j3032">Letter: Assisted death in “healthy” old age needs consideration</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/357/bmj.j2298">Analysis: Assisted dying for healthy older people: a step too far?</a></li> </ul> <h2>2016</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/354/bmj.i3802">Analysis: Embracing inherent uncertainty in advanced illness</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/353/bmj.i2188">Editorial: End of life care still not living up to public and doctors’ expectations</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/352/bmj.i1589">Personal view: My mum’s decision changed my view of assisted dying</a></li> </ul> <h2>2015</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4883">Letter: Matters arising from <em>The BMJ</em>’s stance on assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4846">David Oliver: What to do about end of life scare stories</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4767">Letter: The BMJ’s views on assisted dying: non-representative of its audience</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4768">Letter: The Assisted Dying Bill is not a UK bill</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4517">Editor's Choice: Assisted dying—time for a full and fair debate</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4437">Head to head: Would judicial consent for assisted dying protect vulnerable people?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4453">Personal view: Assisted dying: legal ambiguity lets down families as well as patients</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4461">Personal view: Mental capacity as a safeguard in assisted dying: clarity is needed</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4481">Feature: Assisted dying: law and practice around the world</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4385">Feature: A doctor who chose an assisted death</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h1828">Feature: In support of assisted dying</a></li> </ul> <h2>2014</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4966">Letter: Data to support assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4950">Letter: No man is an island</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4948">Letter: Why The BMJ should not declare a stance on assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4969">Letter: Why public opinion should not enter the debate about assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4957">Letter: Attending to the vulnerabilities of people who are dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4967">Letter: Widening the net of assisted suicide to vulnerable people</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4964">Letter: Why the Assisted Dying Bill is not needed in England and Wales</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4965">Letter: Assisting suicide goes against why most of us became doctors</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4961">Letter: Some data on assisted dying from Oregon are worrying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4784">Personal view: An assisted dying law might save me from a lingering and unpleasant death</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4104">Letter: “Misleading falsehoods” regarding assisted dying?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4502">Margaret McCartney: The BMJ is wrong: doctor assisted dying would overmedicalise death</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4384">Editor's Choice: Choice in matters of life and death</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4311">Observations: We must not deprive dying people of the most important protection</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4349">Editorials: Why the Assisted Dying Bill should become law in England and Wales</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4285">Letter: The limits of palliative care</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4003">Letter: RCGP consultation on assisted dying was comprehensive and conclusively in favour of no change to the law</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g3699">Editorials: Why is talking about dying such a challenge?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g3532">Observations: Assisted dying is not the same as euthanasia</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g3274">Letter: All RCGP members should be balloted on assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g2261">Feature: The end of life</a></li> </ul> <h2>2013</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f4896">Letter: The Swiss experience of assisted suicide is positive</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f4982">Letter: Giving dying people what they want</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f4912">Letter: What do families and professional organisations really think about assisted dying?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f4895">Letter: The law should be changed to allow assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f4062">Personal view: Legalising assisted dying puts vulnerable patients at risk and doctors must speak up</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f4041">Feature: Assisted dying: what happens after Vermont?</a></li> </ul> <h2>2012</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e7057">Letter: Not all “good” doctors do it anyway</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e7073">Letter: The “least worst” course of action?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e6536">Personal view: Assisted dying: “all good doctors do it anyway”</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e6201">Personal view: Terminally ill people shouldn’t have to travel abroad for assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4538">Letter: A carefully crafted law should protect and reassure vulnerable people</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4539">Letter: Abortion reform’s lessons for assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4524">Letter: Safe laws on assisted dying are working worldwide</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4592">Letter: My journey from anti to pro assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4591">Letter: Why neutrality on assisted dying is not an option for doctors’ professional organisations</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4582">Letter: Editorial note on results of assisted dying poll</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e4115">Observations: Our professional bodies should stop opposing assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e4007">Personal view: My mum wanted assisted dying but we watched her die slowly and in pain</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e4075">Editorial: Assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e4021">Letter: Doctors need to perfect the art of allowing patients to die with dignity</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e4020">Letter: Legislation and debate are needed</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e4018">Letter: Malign individuals would probably be identified with legislation</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e4019">Letter: Consider suffering associated with lack of control over dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e4016">Letter: Where’s the evidence for malign relatives, professionals, or carers?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e3755">Observation: What’s wrong with assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e731">Letter: Does the BMJ have a particular ideology to pursue in assisted dying?</a></li> </ul> <h2>2011</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d4512">Letter: So, farewell then, doctrine of double effect</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d4508">Letter: My experience with euthanasia</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d4221">Letter: Missed opportunity to advance debate on assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d4222">Letter: Call for an evidence based debate on assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d3891">Observation: Assisted dying: are doctors in denial?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d3772">Personal view: Assisted dying: we are not alone</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d3184">Letter: Assisted dying versus assisted living</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d3182">Letter: Tallis’s slippery slope</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d3190">Letter: European-wide debate needed</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d3187">Letter: Anti-euthanasia cards</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d3186">Letter: Better framework needed</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d451">Letter: Try another approach, BMJ</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d467">Letter: What of virtue and integrity?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d458">Letter: Put everything out in the open</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d461">Letter: Let’s get the words right too</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d1007">Letter: Time to be neutral?</a></li> </ul> <h2>2010</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/340/bmj.c804">Des Spence: A death of reason</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/340/bmj.c2793">Des Spence: Talking about a revolution</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/340/bmj.c1590">Personal view: Assisted suicide: a substitute for a caring doctor?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/340/bmj.c1609">Letter: A step backwards?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/340/bmj.c1719">Letter: Do it properly or not at all</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/340/bmj.c1394">Editorial: Doctors and assisted suicide</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c4291">Letter: Suicide and euthanasia paradox</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c5174">Research: Reporting of euthanasia in medical practice in Flanders, Belgium: cross sectional analysis of reported and unreported cases</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c4860">Spotlight: Dying matters: let’s talk about it</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c4861">Spotlight: Achieving a good death for all</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c7284">Observation: Care Not Killing</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c7282">Observation: Half truths and one and a half truths about assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c6136">Letter: RCA clarifies its position</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c5982">Letter: RSM is independent</a></li> </ul> <h2>2009</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b3132">Letter: Clinicians need clarification</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b3137">Letter: Time for safety and consistency</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b3135">Letter: The issue is patient safety</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b2772">Research: Euthanasia and other end of life decisions and care provided in final three months of life: nationwide retrospective study in Belgium</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b2730">Editorial: End of life decisions and quality of care before death</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b2827">Personal view: An extremely interesting time to die</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b2883">Editor's choice: Let’s talk about assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b2868">Feature: Assisted suicide: the fight goes on</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b5048">Editorial: End of life care in the acute hospital setting</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b3422">Letter: Doctors, steer clear</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b3446">Letter: Observations: Assisted dying: what’s disability got to do with it?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b3762">Letter: A baroness replies</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b3687">Letter: Authors respond to editorial</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b3685">Letter: Doctors can be trusted</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b3682">Letter: Life is a terminal condition</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b3761">Letter: Doctors’ attitudes surveyed</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b3760">Letter: Doctors, steer entirely clear</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b3690">Letter: Counting end of life decisions</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b5044">Editorial: Death and dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b4900">Editorial: New interim guidance on assisted suicide</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b4982">Personal view: Letting go</li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b4362">Research: Concept of unbearable suffering in context of ungranted requests for euthanasia: qualitative interviews with patients and physicians</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/338/bmj.b2109">Personal view: Euthanasia and free speech in Ireland</a></li> </ul> <h2>2008</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/336/7653/1085.1">Letter: Please, don’t forget ethical responsibilities</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/336/7650/905.1">Letter: Dutch research reflects problems with the Liverpool care pathway</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/336/7649/864">Analysis: Development of palliative care and legalisation of euthanasia: antagonism or synergy?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/336/7648/781">Editorial: Continuous deep sedation in patients nearing death</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/336/7648/810">Research: Continuous deep sedation for patients nearing death in the Netherlands: descriptive study</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a1682">Research: Prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients requesting physicians’ aid in dying: cross sectional survey</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a2479">Letter: Euthanasia and depression: no surprise</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a2477">Letter: Depression in terminal illness</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a2478">Letter: Psychiatric review is mandatory in Australia</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a1558">Editorial: Depression and physician assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a3010">Observations: Paving the way for assisted suicide</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a2701">Practice: The last wish of a patient with end stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease</a></li> </ul> <h2>2007</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/335/7621/625">Editorial: Physician assisted death in vulnerable populations</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/334/7603/1072.2">Letter: Are we asking the right questions?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/334/7600/912">Editorial: Euthanasia in neonates</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/334/7591/440.4">Letter: Double effect is a myth leading a double life</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/334/7588/295">Analysis: Role of non-governmental organisations in physician assisted suicide</a></li> </ul> <h2>2006</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/333/7571/719.2">Italy debates end of life decisions</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/332/7551/1169.1">UK House of Lords rejects physician assisted suicide</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/332/7536/256.4">Police question former GP about assisted suicide</a></li> <li><a href="https://bmj.com/content/333/7558/64.1">Doctors backtrack on assisted suicide</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/332/7548/993.1">Legalising assisted dying does not affect palliative care, says US expert</a></li> </ul> <h2>2005</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/331/7520/841.1">Letter: RCGP is not neutral: it opposes a change in legislation</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/331/7520/841.2">Letter: Response from the Association for Palliative Medicine</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/331/7520/841.3">Letter: BMA should take an active role, whatever that may be</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/331/7520/841.4">Letter: What autonomy really means</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/331/7520/842.1">Letter: Do we make decisions by our feelings or the truth?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/331/7520/842.2">Letter: No, thank you</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/331/7520/842.3">Letter: Recruiting more vulnerable doctors may be the answer</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/331/7520/842.4">Letter: Use of Baxter products in figure for physician assisted suicide was inappropriate</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/331/7520/842.5">Letter: Doctors cannot simultaneously be patient centred and reject assisted suicide</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/331/7520/843.1">Letter: Time to legalise assisted dying? : Summary of responses</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/331/7518/0.8">Editor's choice: A time to die</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/331/7518/681">Education and debate: Time for change</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/331/7518/684">Education and debate: Legalised euthanasia will violate the rights of vulnerable patients</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/331/7518/686">Education and debate: Changes in BMA policy on assisted dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/331/7518/689">Education and debate: Moral dimensions</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/331/7518/691">Education and debate: Dutch experience of monitoring euthanasia</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/330/7504/1388.1">Education and debate: Legal view of right to life and death could threaten philosophy of palliative care</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/330/7504/1388.2">Education and debate: Sensitivity and humility are needed when dealing with dying people</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/330/7504/1388.4">Education and debate: No man (or woman) is an island</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/330/7504/1389.3">Letter: “Right to die”: Summary of responses</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/330/7495/799">Editorial: “Right to die”</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/330/7489/486.1">Review: Whose Life is it Anyway?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/330/7488/415">Education and debate: Timers on ventilators</a></li> </ul> <h2>2004</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/329/7471/895">Recent developments: Suicide in older people</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/329/7468/747.1">The Good Euthanasia Guide 2004: Where, What, and Who in Choices in Dying</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/328/7453/1440.3">Am I breaking the law again?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/328/7448/1088">Assisted suicide</a></li> </ul> <h2>2003</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/327/7425/255">Dead issue</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/327/7425/256">Oregon update</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/327/7415/595">Doctors' opinions on euthanasia, end of life care, and doctor-patient communication: telephone survey in France</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/327/7415/614">Doctors should not discuss resuscitation with terminally ill patients</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/327/7408/174">Patient centred death</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/327/7408/189">Effects of euthanasia on the bereaved family and friends: a cross sectional study</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/327/7408/202">National survey of medical decisions at end of life made by New Zealand general practitioners</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/360/bmj.k417">Patients' voices are needed in debates on euthanasia</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/327/7408/225.3">Law needs to be changed to allow terminally ill people choice of a dignified death</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/327/7408/226.1">Do we really know what happens in this country?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/327/7408/226.2">Both how and when determines a good death</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/327/7405/51.3">Doctors occupy special position</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/327/7405/52.1">Doctors should keep out of it</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/327/7405/52.2">“Comfort care” needs robust moral framework</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/327/7405/52.3">Distinction needs to be made between choice and obligation</a></li> <li><a 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