Over 3400 medical professionals have petitioned the government to oppose legislation on assisted dying.

The letter by Our Duty of Care urges health professionals to “oppose the intentional killing of patients”.

It comes as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill nears its formal vote, on 29th November.

Kim Leadbeater MP, who tabled it as a Private Member’s Bill, says there will be strict safeguards around who can receive an assisted death. A person must be mentally capable of expressing a ‘clear, settled and informed’ wish to die, and receive two separate declarations confirming their wish to die. Two independent doctors – and a high court judge – must be satisfied on the decision.

The Bishop of Bath and Wells, Rt Rev Michael Beasley, told Premier Christian Radio that he has serious doubts over the bill’s proposed safeguards.

“I’m sceptical that any amount of safeguards are going to be able to protect the vulnerable,” he said. “Who knows what is going on in people's hearts, and who knows what is going on in terms of the pressure that people may be putting on themselves, or may be receiving from their family or friends?

“I don't know that any doctor is going to be competent properly to judge that, nor any judge - particularly when we live in an environment where our health services are so overstretched.”