The evil of euthanasia is horrific. It all starts with so called 'merciful killing' but all evil starts with false 'charitable' ends. I have no need to remind supposed benefits of conceiving children in vitro - now we have evil of experimentation on surplus human embryos, of using their stem cells for so far 'fantasy cures'. Euthanasia, if made lawful, may easily ends in 'obligatory' killings of disabled, elder, homeless. We may be told one day caring for these people is just too expensive. There are news from SPUC, please read them carefully and see in what direction it is all heading:
Patients' deaths are being hastened in the British state health service. Research by Queen Mary University, London, published in the Palliative Medicine journal suggests that some 2,500 people are killed with drugs annually. A survey suggests that a third of doctors approve of assisted suicide (or at least letting people go abroad for it). The Christian Medical Fellowship did not want the law changed; medics needed training in caring for the dying. Dignity in Dying, the pro-euthanasia group, claimed the study showed that the UK needed a law that allows people to be killed by euthanasia and assisted suicide. Ms Sarah Wootton said it should have safeguards. [Daily Mail, 25 March] Paul Tully of SPUC commented: "In fact, the evidence from the Netherlands shows that, even with safeguards, around 900 patients a year are being killed by doctors without request or consent, besides those who volunteer for death. In Oregon too, the safeguards are ineffectual, with massive under-reporting putting patients at risk. In order to truly safeguard patients what is needed in the UK is wider understanding of the pain control available, and the rewriting of recent pro-euthanasia legislation and protocols to make clear that intentional killing is not acceptable. The 2005 Mental Capacity Act made it legal for doctors to kill incapacitated patients deliberately, and medical guidance on withholding treatment says that patients can be killed by starvation and dehydration. It is no wonder that cases like the deaths of six disabled people highlighted by Mencap have been blamed on discrimination. That is what the BMA guidance and recent legislation - for all their safeguards - encourage."
There was not time in the British House of Commons on Monday for debate on a measure to exempt from prosecution people who take others overseas to kill themselves. [Telegraph, 23 March] SPUC's Anthony Ozmic said: "We are calling upon our supporters to be ready to lobby members of the House of Lords, as one or more amendments to weaken the ban on assisted suicide may be tabled to the Coroners and Justice bill when it is debated in the Lords in the coming weeks."
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