British Pro-Life Group Opposes Amendment to Bill Legalizing Assisted Suicide
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 29, 2009
London, England (LifeNews.com) — A British pro-life group is worried that an amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill in the House of Lords would have the effect of legalizing assisted suicide. Britain has been the next place for euthanasia advocates to promote their agenda by legalizing assisted suicide and targeting the elderly and disabled.
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, which also opposes euthanasia and assisted suicide, told LifeNews.com Friday that pro-life advocates need to speak out about the amendment.
"Despite the government saying that they did not want such an amendment attached to the Bill, it has been tabled by Lord Alderdice," SPUC explains.
"Although the amendment has little chance of success, it is very important that it is strongly opposed at the committee stage debate, which is scheduled for 9th and 10th June," the group adds.
Alderdice’s amendment would say that "no offence shall have been committed if assistance is given to a person to commit suicide" and sets for provisions for when assisted suicides can be carried out.
Although some MPs are hoping to legalize assisted suicide, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he doesn’t favor such a move.
Over 100 MPs signed Early Day Motion 230 which expresses concern about "the choices that some terminally ill adults are being forced to make" because assisted suicide is illegal in the UK. They say there is the chance for the law to be changed via the Coroners and Justice Bill.
But a spokesman for Brown says the Prime Minister has retained his long-held beliefs that assisted suicide is wrong, though he also believes Parliament is entitled to vote on the matter.
In December, when asked about assisted suicide at prime minister’s questions, Brown said: "I believe that it is necessary to ensure that there is never a case in this country where a sick or elderly person feels under pressure to agree to an assisted death or somehow feels it is the expected thing to do. That is why I have always opposed legislation for assisted deaths."
ACTION: MPs can be contacted by email via https://www.spuc.org.uk/lobbying/email or by telephone through the House of Commons switchboard number 020 7219 3000. You can also write to MPs at House of Lords, London SW1A 0PW.
Related web sites:
SPUC – https://www.spuc.org.uk
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