Ultimate act of compassion – or licensed murder of the ‘incurable’?

Prior to the General Election, Sir Keir Starmer expressed his unequivocal support for any future Bill on assisted dying that would come before Parliament.  Now, barely three weeks into the new Parliament and with what feels to be almost unseemly haste, that Bill is set to be introduced into the House of Lords by Lord Falconer tomorrow.

This pernicious and dangerous legislation must be rejected.  Whatever the claimed safeguards – namely that it will only be available for adults of sound mind, who are suffering from a terminal illness with, at most, six months to live – in jurisdictions where such legislation has been approved, we know that it rapidly becomes extended to include those suffering from non-terminal, and even ‘psychological’, conditions, while in the Netherlands it has also now been ‘broadened’ to include children aged 1- 12, who’ve been diagnosed as suffering unbearably and with no hope of improvement.  Perhaps most alarming of all, however, is evidence showing that, where assisted dying becomes legal, euthanasia rapidly becomes one of the main causes of death, as in Canada.

The truth is, it is impossible to maintain any safeguards.  And lest we be tempted to think that the UK will somehow remain immune from such abuse, it is worth noting that the organisation Humanists UK has already begun lobbying for the extension of the Bill to those not suffering from terminal illness, but diagnosed with non-terminal conditions, such as multiple sclerosis or locked-in syndrome.

Our report, When End of Life Care Goes Wrong (2022), shows all too clearly that our health service already practices euthanasia by the back door.  Should Lord Falconer’s dangerous Bill become law, it is without question that what has hitherto been regarded as the unquestioned ‘right’ of all to life, respect, and compassionate care while that life remains, will be placed in jeopardy.  Death will become an accepted form of treatment, and the vulnerable of all ages will justifiably be left frightened of going into hospital.  

Please contact your MP today, urging them not to support Lord Falconer’s Bill.  And please let us know any response you receive.

SIGN AND SHARE VfJUK’s NEW PETITION:

Say NO to the Falconer Bill on Assisted Dying

Sign here: https://citizengo.org/en-gb/lfe/13557