Euthanasia in Britain

It is understood that euthanasia is extremely rare in the UK and few doctors want it legalised, but campaigners for euthanasia have long argued terminally-ill patients are helped to die in secret.

New research provides support for that argument and suggests that as many as 3,000 patients were illegally helped to die by doctors in Britain in 2004.

According to the research an estimated one third, almost 192,000, of all those who died in 2004 had their deaths hastened by doctors using pain relief, yet according to a Brunel University anonymous survey of 857 doctors, very few want euthanasia legalised.

The study by Professor Clive Seale, of Brunel University, calculated that up to eight patients deaths each day were described by doctors as voluntary euthanasia.

The survey revealed that of the 584,791 deaths in the UK in 2004, 0.16% (936) were by voluntary euthanasia.

Some 0.33% (1,930) involved the doctor ending a patient's life without consent from the patients, for instance if they are in a coma.

This is sometimes known as involuntary euthanasia.

Both voluntary and involuntary euthanasia are illegal in Britain, but Seale says although British doctors are less willing to break the law and engage in these acts than doctors in other countries, there is a culture of palliative care.

He says that 191,811 deaths had been accelerated by doctors using pain relief, known medically as “alleviation of symptoms with possibly life-shortening effect”.

There were no reported cases of suicide assisted by doctors.

Professor Seale says euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are very emotive issues but the very strong ethos of providing excellent palliative care in the UK, is reflected in the finding that doctors are willing to make decisions that prioritise the comfort of patients, without striving to preserve life at the cost of suffering.

He says the findings suggest that providing the best patient care is the major motivation behind decision-making.

The study is the first comprehensive study into medical practice undertaken in the UK and shows euthanasia rates are lower than in many other countries.

The findings will be of particular interest as a private members bill was introduced into the House of Lords in November proposing a relaxation of laws governing doctor-assisted dying.

The study is published in Palliative Medicine.