Many NHS staff would use ‘conscience clause’ if assisted dying legalised, say doctors

David Randall, a renal consultant: ‘Assisted suicide is not being driven by ethnic minority or deprived communities.’ Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

A significant proportion of NHS medical staff in England and Wales are likely to exercise a “conscience clause” if assisted dying is legalised by parliament.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s private member’s bill stipulates that no doctor would be under any obligation to participate in assisted dying.