Doctors are in open revolt against their professional body amid claims that the Royal College of Physicians has been captured by lobbyists for assisted dying.
A former official has threatened legal action over a new vote on the issue that he called a “sham poll”.
The college opposes allowing doctors to help terminally ill patients to end their lives but plans to poll its members and fellows again. Unless there is a 60 per cent majority for or against assisted dying, it will adopt a neutral position.
Opponents of the new poll argue that a neutral stance would amount to “tacit support for assisted suicide”.
Most medical organisations oppose changing the law. A free vote in the Commons in 2015 rejected proposals that would have