TY - JOUR T1 - Ethics briefing JF - Journal of Medical Ethics JO - J Med Ethics SP - 280 LP - 281 DO - 10.1136/medethics-2020-106198 VL - 46 IS - 4 AU - Ruth Campbell AU - Sophie Brannan AU - Veronica English AU - Olivia Lines AU - Rebecca Mussell AU - Julian C Sheather Y1 - 2020/04/01 UR - http://jme.bmj.com/content/46/4/280.abstract N2 - British Medical association survey on physician-assisted dying closesPrevious Ethics briefings have highlighted the survey of members on physician-assisted dying being carried out by the British Medical Association.1 This survey closed at midnight on Thursday 27 February.In total, 29 011 members responded – 20.1% of all members who received an invitation to participate – making this one of the largest surveys of medical opinion carried out on this issue, ever.The results of the survey will not make BMA policy, but will inform a debate and discussion at the organisation’s main policy-making conference, the annual representative meeting (ARM) in June this year. You can find out more about the survey and how it was carried out at www.bma.org.uk/PAD This page will continue to be updated when more information about the survey results is available.Royal College of General Practitioners remains opposed to a change in the law on assisted dyingIn October 2019, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) began surveying its members on the College’s position on physician-assisted dying. The College published its results on 21 February. Of the 49 539 members invited to participated, 6674 responded – a response rate of 13.47%.2 In response to a question about what the College’s position on the law on assisted dying should be:47 per cent of respondents said that the RCGP should oppose a change in the law on assisted dying;40 per cent of respondents said that the RCGP should support a change in the law on assisted dying, providing there is a regulatory framework and appropriate safeguarding processes in place; and11 per cent of respondents said that the RCGP should have a neutral position on the topic of assisted dying.3 Following the results of the survey, the RCGP Council decided that the College should continue to oppose a change in the law on assisted dying.Belgian doctors acquitted in country’s first criminal euthanasia caseAs noted in previous Ethics briefings, three Belgian doctors faced criminal charges of “unlawfully poisoning” a … ER -