DAME ESTHER'S DELIGHT AT KEY CHANGE

ESTHER Rantzen has applauded a decision by GPs' leaders to end their opposition to assisted dying.

- Hanna Geissler

The Royal College of GPS had been the last major medical institution to stand against changing the law.

Its council voted to switch to a neutral position after polling of RCGP members.

Dame Esther, 84, inset, who has terminal lung cancer and is a leading voice in the fight for greater choice at the end of life, said: "This is very good news." TV doctor Hilary Jones, a friend of the lifelong campaigner, also welcomed the "momentous decision". He added: "Not every GP supports assisted dying, but many of us do all over this country." It follows similar moves from opposition to neutrality by medical groups including the Royal College of Anaesthetists last year, the Royal College of Surgeons in 2023, the British Medical Association (2021) and the Royal College of Physicians (2019).

Dr Jones is a GP with four decades' experience and health editor at ITV's Good Morning Britain and Lorraine.