It difficulties MPs and peers to back the bill, describing them as “our timid lawmakers”.
Supporters of the bill welcomed the intervention, saying it was recognition that a “growing number” of medical doctors and other healthcare personnel support a adjust in the law.
But the BMA insisted that the journal did not represent its views or people of the wider healthcare occupation.
In just over two weeks Lord Falconer’s bill, which would allow medical professionals to prescribe lethal doses of drugs to terminally sick patients with a “settled intention” to finish their lives, will have its initial complete parliamentary airing with a second reading debate in the Residence of Lords.
Members of each houses are to be given a free vote on the concern and ministers, including Norman Lamb, the care minister, have presently signalled they would assistance it.
Last week the President of the Supreme Court, Lord Neuberger, publicly challenged Parliament to review the law on assisted suicide or encounter intervention by the courts.
The court turned down a challenge involving the loved ones of Tony Nicklinson, the “locked-in syndrome” sufferer who fought a lengthy campaign for assisted suicide, but signalled it could be prepared to declare the ban on assisting an individual to take their very own existence as “incompatible” with human rights if Parliament did not act.
“Let us hope that our timid lawmakers will rise to the [court’s] challenge,” the editorial remarks.
It goes on: Folks must be capable to workout decision in excess of their very own lives which must include how and when they die, when death is imminent.
“In current decades, respect for autonomy has emerged as the cardinal principle in health care ethics and underpins developments in informed consent, patient confidentiality, and advance directives.”
“Recognition of an individual’s appropriate to establish his or her best interests lies at the heart of this journal’s method to advance the patient revolution in wellness care.
“It would be perverse to suspend our advocacy at the second a person’s days have been numbered.”
Dr Peter Saunders, campaign director of the Care Not Killing Alliance, explained: “While autonomy is important it has to be balanced against other principles such as public security.
“None of us believes autonomy is absolute, if we did we would have to say that there was no location for law because every single law restricts personal autonomy.”
Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying explained: “We are delighted that the British Health care Journal has backed Lord Falconer’s Assisted Dying Bill.
“The recognition by the leading healthcare journal of the importance of safeguarded patient choice in finish of daily life care is to be welcomed, and comes at a time when a developing amount of foremost wellness care experts are supporting this kind of decision.”
Dr Mark Porter, chair of the BMA Council, stated: “There are strongly held views inside of the medical profession on the two sides of this complex and emotive issue.
“The BMA remains firmly opposed to legalising assisted dying.
“This problem has been often debated at the BMA’s policy forming yearly conference and latest calls for a adjust in the law have persistently been rejected.
“The BMJ is a wholly owned subsidiary of the BMA, and quite rightly has editorial independence.
“Its position on assisted dying is an editorial decision and does not reflect the views of the BMA or the health care occupation.
“Our concentrate have to be on creating sure every single patient can accessibility the really best of palliative care, which empowers individuals to make selections in excess of their care.”
Legalise assisted suicide simply because "choice" the most critical principle in medicine - says BMJ
