9/6/09
Lords’ euthanasia amendment causes concern it could lead to ‘abuse’
A proposal put forward in the House of Lords last week to ensure that relatives who travel abroad to enable their ill loved ones to die will not face prosecution has come under fire from anti-euthanasia campaigners.
“What we are witnessing here is an incremental political strategy, and Parliament and the public should not be lulled into a sense of security by this apparently modest beginning” said director of the campaign group Care Not Killing, Dr Peter Saunders.
By seeking acceptance for assisted suicide in principle Lord Falconer's amendment is a recipe for the abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people. This bill is not the proper context for such a seismic shift in legal principle.”
The amendment to the Coroner’s and Justice Bill was prompted by the fact that the director of public prosecutions has already chosen not to prosecute at least 100 people that have travelled to clinics abroad with terminally ill relatives.
Sarah Wootton, chief executive of the pro-euthanasia organisation Dignity in Dying believes the amendment is a step in the right direction.
"The public overwhelmingly support change, this amendment gives politicians the opportunity to listen and act”.
23/6/09
Hampshire hospice sees funds bloom
The funds of a Hampshire hospice have been given a boost after a New Forest village opened twenty of its best gardens to the public to raise money for the charity.
Sway Open Gardens, a biennial event now in its twelfth year, took place on Sunday 14th June and raised £10,000 to help Oakhaven Hospice’s terminally ill patients and their loved ones.
Mike Denny, head of communications and fundraising at the hospice was delighted with the effort made by the local community.
“Oakhaven Hospice, just like every other hospice in the UK, holds such a powerful and emotional place in the heart of the community it serves that we get a lot of support for our fundraising initiatives. We’re really happy with the tremendous success of the Sway Open Gardens event this year and are thankful to everyone who supported it”
The event saw garden enthusiasts from all over the South pay five pounds to view all the gardens on show.
“We’re thrilled to bits with how well the day went. It’s the best financial result we’ve had to date which is even more surprising and pleasing during an economic downturn” said organiser Thomas King.
30/6/09
Religious letter against euthanasia sparks fears from both sides of the debate
A letter written by three of Britain’s most senior religious leaders against a Lords’ proposal to make assisting suicide abroad legal has led to concern from those both for, and against the bill.
The letter, published in yesterday’s Daily Telegraph was co-written by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of Westminster and the Chief Rabbi and is an attempt to stop the proposed amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill.
Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying said the clerics have taken “a tactical position based on a religious objection to assisted dying for the terminally ill”.
Baroness Jane Campbell of Surbiton who is against the amendment also has her concerns.
“I applaud their speaking out against this bill. My worry is that the public will see this as a religious objection only. Why should we be suffering because the church says it is wrong to kill?
But what I would say is whilst the religious objections are part of this argument there are many other objections coming from disabled people themselves with terminal conditions so don’t polarise it as a secular versus religious argument”: she added.
7/7/09
Dr Death labels proposed euthanasia bill as “quaint”
The proposed amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill currently being debated in the House of Lords has been labelled as many things but up until now quaint was not one of them.
Dr Nitschke, the director of the pro euthanasia organisation EXIT International who is more commonly known as Dr Death, welcomes the proposed change in the law but doesn’t think it goes far enough.
“I think the British by attempting to alter legislation in the way they are suggesting, so that people can basically go and die in Switzerland, is quite quaint. Rather than actually biting the bullet and looking at the issue and saying surely people should be able to receive assistance in Britain.”
The amendment includes various clauses but it is the proposal to make assisting someone abroad in order for them to commit suicide which has pleased and angered people in equal measure.
Lord Carlile is one of those opposed to the changes as he believes they would be open to abuse.
“If you look at the Falconer amendment the small print in it which is intended to protect the vulnerable plainly doesn’t do so.”