THE Bishop of Worcester has reiterated his opposition to assisted dying and said he believes his late wife may have chosen the option, taking away "precious moments" they shared at the end.

The Right Reverend Dr John Inge was speaking after British Medical Association (BMA) members voted to adopt a neutral stance on assisted dying.

Previously the BMA has been opposed to a change in the law on assisted dying, but after a vote the union now neither supports nor oppose attempts to change it.

Bishop John said: "I am opposed to assisted dying on religious grounds because I believe life is a gift, not a personal possession, but my opposition to it is also based on secular arguments.

"It’s worth noting that the BMA has decided to adopt a neutral stance and has certainly not come out in favour.

"At the same time, almost all doctors and nurses involved in palliative care of the dying - those at the sharp end - are opposed to assisted dying.

"The legalisation of assisted dying would fundamentally change the relationship between patients and doctors.

"At present I know that a doctor is duty-bound to do everything possible to save my life. Were assisted dying to be possible that would not always be the case."

Bishop John's wife Denise Inge died from abdominal sarcoma at the age of 51 in 2014.

Speaking about that time the Bishop said: "Had assisted dying been legal when my late wife was first diagnosed with inoperable cancer I fear that in the stress of the moment she might have opted for it, thus denying herself - and me and our family - some precious times together.

"Not only might those who would be eligible for assisting dying feel that they ought to opt for it in order not to be a burden on others, it is also true that pressure might come from family.

"There were 300,000 cases of elder abuse recorded a year or two ago. Sadly, we cannot always assume that the a person’s nearest and dearest will have their best interests at heart.

"Fundamentally, what might seem a victory for individual rights would, it seems to me, have a detrimental effect on society as a whole and result in some lives being seen as more valuable than others."

The Bishop has been a vocal opponent of changing the law on assisted dying, including six years ago urging MPs to vote against the Assisted Dying Bill.

MPs had a free vote in the Commons on that bill, that would have allowed patients to end their lives if they have no more than six months to live, with it being defeated on a vote of 330 against, 118 in favour.

BMA's move to a neutral position was welcomed by some campaign groups, with Dignity in Dying chief executive Sarah Wootton branding it “a victory for common sense”.

She said: “This is an historic decision. It brings the BMA in line with a growing number of medical bodies in the UK and around the world."

But Care Not Killing chief executive Dr Gordon Macdonald said that current laws protect vulnerable people and do not need changing.

He added: “We are naturally disappointed at the divisive nature of this vote as it exposes the divide between doctors."