The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has dropped its opposition to assisted dying, following a controversial poll.

The college will adopt a “neutral” stance after a survey of its 36,000 members about whether the law should be changed to permit doctor-assisted dying.

The poll found 43.4 per cent of respondents were opposed to a change in the law - little different to a finding of 44.4 per cent when the poll was conducted in 2014.

The number wanting the college to support assisted dying increased to 31.6 per cent from 24.6 per cent.

Just 25 per cent thought the RCP stance should be neutral - a fall from 31 per cent, when medics were last polled.

However, the terms of the new poll mean the college will now adopt a neutral position.

The RCP had said it would do so, unless there was a 60 per cent majority for or against.

As a result, the college was accused of running a “sham poll” by medics who say that it has framed the survey in order to shift its position.

Medics were also asked if they would be prepared to participate in assisted dying if the law changed.

The percentage saying they would be prepared to participate in assisted dying increased from 21.4 per cent to 24.6 per cent. The number saying no fell from 58.4 per cent to 55.1 per cent.