British public overwhelmingly rejects 'forced participation' and private profiteering" in Assisted Dying bill

A major new polling from British Polling Council member Whitestone Insight released released on Friday reveals deep public concern over the 'Assisted Dying' bill currently under parliamentary scrutiny, with the British public coming out strongly against "forced participation" for medical staff and the entry of for-profit companies into the service.

It found by a clear margin of nearly 3-to-1 (61 per cent to 24 per cent), the public believes doctors and medical staff should be legally entitled to decline taking part in assisted suicide if they have ethical or conscientious objections.

Crucially, the support for "conscientious objection" extends to institutions, with six in 10 (58 per cent) believing that hospices and care homes should be free to opt out of providing such services without the threat of legal or financial sanctions. By contrast, just one in four, (24 per cent) disagreed.

The data, which is being released in the wake of the clear rejection of the assisted dying bill in Scotland, highlights a striking irony among younger demographics. Despite a well-documented propensity among Gen Z and Millennials to refuse work that does not align with their personal values, under-44s are actually the most likely to support "forced participation" for doctors. One-third (33 per cent) of 25-34 year olds believe staff should be compelled to participate, compared to just 16 per cent of those aged 75 and over.

The most overwhelming consensus, however, is found in the public's rejection of "death for profit." By a staggering ratio of nearly 8-to-1 (74 per cent to 9 per cent), voters say that assisted suicide services should not be contracted out to private, for-profit companies.

This opposition is even more pronounced among vulnerable groups. Among people with a disability, the ratio against private sector involvement rises to more than 13-to-1, 79 per cent against, compared to just one in 20, six per cent in favour.

Dr Gordon Macdonald, CEO of Care Not Killing, commented: "These figures show that the British public is profoundly uncomfortable with the idea of conscripting doctors into ending lives against their will. Even more striking is the total rejection of the private sector making a profit from death. The idea that for-profit companies could be contracted to provide assisted suicide is viewed as anathema by the vast majority of the public, particularly by the disabled community, who feel most at risk.

"Parliamentarians must listen to these concerns. A bill that forces doctors to choose between their careers and their conscience, or one that opens the door to 'assisted dying' as a profitable business model, is not a bill the British public supports."

The results also suggest a significant disconnect between the proposed legislation and the government's own voter base. Fully three-quarters, 75 per cent of 2024 Labour voters are opposed to contracting out these services to the private sector, with just 10 per cent in support. . Opponents of private for-profit provision also include more than eight in ten SNP, Reform and Green Party voters.

A view expressed by several Senedd members last month during the legislative consent motion debate. Despite previously voting against assisted dying, the prospect of Westminster forcing assisted dying on Wales, which could only be delivered by profit-making companies, persuaded some members to switch their vote.

Dr Macdonald concluded: "This poll shows that the public supports the work of the House of Lords, which is undertaking careful and detailed scrutiny of the bill, in an attempt to fix the many problems contained within it. Problems that were highlighted in the House of Commons by several MPs, who expressed their hope that the Lords to make the bill safe and ensure both patient and doctor are protected from being coerced into actions they do not agree with. It is just such a pity that Lord Falconer continues to try to bully peers into rushing the bill through. Has he learnt nothing from the disastrous mistakes he has made in the past?"

Care Not Killing is a UK-based alliance bringing together over 40 organisations - human rights and disability rights organisations, health care and palliative care groups, faith-based organisations groups - and thousands of concerned individuals.

We have three key aims:

to promote more and better palliative care;
to ensure that existing laws against euthanasia and assisted suicide are not weakened or repealed;
to inform public opinion further against any weakening of the law.

If you would like to talk with someone about issues raised in this article, the Samaritans are available 24 hours a day. Call free on 116 123 or visit: www.samaritans.org

Read more about Care Not Killing: https://carenotkilling.org.uk/