Lord David Alton: why we must not allow legal assisted suicide

In response to the Falconer Commission, which is expected to report on Thursday 5th January, Lord David Alton, one of the UK's most experienced and respected pro-life campaigners, has written a superb article rejecting the idea of assisted suicide and reffirming the need for society to protect and cherish those who are reaching the end of their lives or are otherwise vulnerable. An extract:

"The Falconer Commission's findings might be dismissed as propaganda but it would be foolish to underestimate the determination of cliques and campaigns which can have significant impact on public opinion and law.

Just before Christmas the Dutch announced that they are considering mobile units to kill people in their own homes. 1,000 of the 4,000 euthanasia deaths in Holland each year are now done without the patient's consent. Not content with this, the Dutch say that 80% of people with dementia or mental illnesses are being 'missed' by the country's euthanasia laws. They say that the death-on-wheels mobile units are necessary because some GPs have refused to administer lethal drugs to their patients.

This isn't giving people "dignity in dying". Sending out mobile units to administer lethal injections, to "put people down", will strike fear into the hearts of the vulnerable. It diminishes the dignity and humanity of the sick and elderly and diminishes those of us who condone it.

A change in the law is unnecessary, dangerous and unethical. As the distinguished lawyer, Lord Carlile QC, puts it we have "a hard law, with a kind face." We should keep it that way.

Instead, we should take this opportunity to consider improvements where the provision or practice isn't good enough.

Macmillan nurses, hospices and palliative care give the overwhelming majority in Britain a dignified death which does not involve commissioning doctors and nurses as patient killers.

When the physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs of the patient are met, requests for euthanasia are actually extremely rare. Less than 1,000 people persistently ask for it. 95% of Palliative Medicine Specialists are opposed to a change in the law."

Read the whole thing.