EUROPE/GT BRITAIN - Leaders of 6 main faith groups in Britain issue Open letter warning about proposed change in law to allow euthanasia. The so called ‘right to die’ would inexorably become the ‘duty to die’

London (Fides Service) - In an unprecedented move, nine leading figures from the six major faith groups in the UK published an open letter - signed by them all - that will be sent to all members of both Houses of Parliament. They have joined forces to give a serious warning about any proposed change in the law to allow assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia. The action comes just a few days before the high profile debate in the House of Lords on the Select Committee report on Lord Joffe’s Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill, on 10 October.
The religious leaders remind Parliament that legalising assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia would radically alter the moral basis of our society by severely undermining respect for life. They collectively re-affirm their belief in the sanctity of human life which is underpinned by rapid advances in palliative care. These mean that suffering can be minimised - the arguments put forward by the pro-euthanasia lobby that assisted suicide is necessary to ease the sufferings of the terminally ill therefore lack any credible scientific evidence.
The leaders also stress the opposition of the vast majority of medical professionals, including GPs, to any change in the law on intentional killing. And say that opinion polls on the matter are not reliable because they are based on yes or no without alternative answers such as palliative care. They point to the serious problems being faced by countries that have legalised euthanasia or assisted suicide. They recall that the “previous Lords’ Committee on this issue opposed assisted dying because of concern that ‘vulnerable people - the elderly, lonely, sick or distressed - would feel pressure, whether real or imagined, to request early death.’ This concern is just as valid today”. They conclude with a warning that the “so-called ‘right to die’ would inexorably become the duty to die and potentially economic pressures and convenience would come to dominate decision-making.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 14/10/2005, righe 24, parole 325)
London (Fides Service) - In an unprecedented move, nine leading figures from the six major faith groups in the UK published an open letter - signed by them all - that will be sent to all members of both Houses of Parliament. They have joined forces to give a serious warning about any proposed change in the law to allow assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia. The action comes just a few days before the high profile debate in the House of Lords on the Select Committee report on Lord Joffe’s Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill, on 10 October.
The religious leaders remind Parliament that legalising assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia would radically alter the moral basis of our society by severely undermining respect for life. They collectively re-affirm their belief in the sanctity of human life which is underpinned by rapid advances in palliative care. These mean that suffering can be minimised - the arguments put forward by the pro-euthanasia lobby that assisted suicide is necessary to ease the sufferings of the terminally ill therefore lack any credible scientific evidence.
The leaders also stress the opposition of the vast majority of medical professionals, including GPs, to any change in the law on intentional killing. And say that opinion polls on the matter are not reliable because they are based on yes or no without alternative answers such as palliative care. They point to the serious problems being faced by countries that have legalised euthanasia or assisted suicide. They recall that the “previous Lords’ Committee on this issue opposed assisted dying because of concern that ‘vulnerable people - the elderly, lonely, sick or distressed - would feel pressure, whether real or imagined, to request early death.’ This concern is just as valid today”. They conclude with a warning that the “so-called ‘right to die’ would inexorably become the duty to die and potentially economic pressures and convenience would come to dominate decision-making.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 14/10/2005, righe 24, parole 325)