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Euthanasia should be legalised, according to a leading British professor of medical ethics.

Emeritus Professor Len Doyal called for the legalisation of both voluntary and non-voluntary euthanasia in Britain.

Prof Doyle claimed doctor assisted deaths are taking place in Britain on a "regular and recurring basis" and need to be better regulated.

Highly respected Prof Doyal is Emeritus Professor of Medical Ethics at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London, and his comments are sure to spark controversy in the medical world.

Writing in The Royal Society of Medicine’s Clinical Ethics journal, Professor Doyal said: "Doctor assisted deaths are taking place on a regular and recurring basis in the UK. They should be better regulated.

"When doctors withdraw life-sustaining treatment, such as feeding tubes from severely incompetent patients, it should morally be recognised for what it is - euthanasia where death is foreseen with certainty.

"Doctors may not want to admit this and couch their decision in terms such as ‘alleviating suffering’ but withdrawal of life sustaining treatment from severely incompetent patients is morally equivalent to active euthanasia."

Professor Doyal added: "If doctors can already choose not to keep uncomprehending patients alive because they believe that life is of no further benefit to them, why should their death be needlessly prolonged?

"It is ironic that much of the debate about euthanasia has been so focussed on competent patients. Withdrawing feeding tubes, ventilators or antibiotics from incompetent patients may result in a slow, painful and incomprehensible death that could be avoided through the legalisation of non-voluntary active euthanasia."

Prof Doyal also criticised Lord Joffe's Bill, which would make it legal for doctors to prescribe drugs that a terminally-ill person could take to end his or her own life, for not going far enough.

Former human rights lawyer Lord Joffe, a former chairman of Oxfam, estimated that 650 people a year would use the medication. However Anglican and Catholic church leaders have spoken out against voluntary euthanasia.

Referring specifically to the Joffe Bill, Professor Doyal claimed: "Some supporters of euthanasia remain silent about non-voluntary euthanasia, presumably because they believe that focusing on voluntary euthanasia offers a better chance of legalisation. Yet in doing so, they ignore important arguments for their own position.

"If doctors are now allowed control – and should be able to exert even more control over – the deaths of severely incompetent patients, why should competent patients not be able to control the circumstances of their own deaths if this is what they wish?

"Proponents of voluntary euthanasia should support non-voluntary euthanasia under appropriate circumstances and with proper regulation."

Professor Doyal lectures, publishes and consults widely and has been a member of the BMA Ethics Committee for nine years