Same statistics, same report, two different headlines: "Third of GPs back euthanasia" and "Majority of UK Doctors Opposed to Euthanasia".

While both were true, the second was more faithful to the original. Even though more than 4 out of 5 Britons support physician-assisted suicide, only 1 out of 3 doctors does. And fewer than 1 in 10 palliative care specialists is in favour.

This is the message from a survey of 3,700 doctors in the journal Palliative Medicine. It provides the first direct comparison between members of the public and doctors.

Study author Professor Clive Seale, from the Centre for Health Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, said: "This research shows stark differences between public opinion and that of doctors. Elsewhere in the world, opposition among doctors has been a major factor in preventing the legalisation of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide."

The study also asked doctors about their involvement in making end of life treatment decisions. Using a drug with the explicit intention of hastening end of life remains very rare in UK medical practice – fewer than one in 200 deaths.

Professor Seale added: "Cases of euthanasia in the UK are very rare. Instead, end of life treatment decisions are often taken with input from patients and family, and it is rare for such decisions to have shortened life by more than a day." press release, Mar 24; HealthCare Republic, Mar 25; Guardian, Mar 24