The Coroners and Justice bill is intended to tighten up the Suicide Act 1961, after the sad spate of suicides by young people in Bridgend.

Ironically, pro-euthanasiasts have proclaimed their intention to subvert the intention of this bill, which is meant to cut down the number of suicides, by using it for exactly the opposite purpose. They intend to propose clauses to legalise assisted suicide for the terminally ill.

They claim, as they so frequently have before, that the public is calling for this. But, as before, it is worth looking at the actual questions asked. Of course if the question implies “Would you rather suffer unbearable agony, or have a nice kind doctor quietly end your horrendous suffering?” responses will favour ending pain.

The truth is that the pro-euthanasia lobby idealise “assisted dying”, but the reality is less palatable.

The media refer to the Dignitas “clinic” in Zurich, but reports indicate that Dignitas staff are constantly being thrown out of ordinary flats after complaints from neighbours. It is reported that at one point, Dignitas even used a camper van in a car park. Recently the city’s Waste Disposal, Water and Energy Department sent a warning to Dignitas about human remains such as fragments of bone polluting Lake Zurich.

Euthanasia advocates emphasize autonomy, the right to control one’s own death, but evidence from Holland shows that “assisted dying” leads to the killing of defenceless people who have not expressed a wish to die, the worst possible denial of autonomy.

Euthanasia advocates claim that “assisted dying” benefits disabled people who are terminally ill, and those suffering from incurable conditions, but it is vehemently opposed worldwide by disabled people , who can see that the right to die swiftly becomes the duty to die. No wonder people with disabilities are afraid, when two thirds of those who answered the latest poll thought the law should allow people to help “those with an incurable condition” to die.

And the more euthanasia advocates talk of “safeguards”, the more it becomes obvious, in evidence from Holland, Belgium and Oregon, that it simply is not possible to protect the vulnerable from abuse.

What can you do?
The Coroners and Justice bill is currently being scrutinised by a Public Bill Committee of 20 MPs, which includes Care Not Killing Chairman Brian Iddon. After the committee stage, the bill will go to Report stage and then to the House of Lords.

You can write to the Prime Minister thanking him for stating that he is opposed to legalising assisted suicide, and urging him not to allow the Coroners and Justice Bill to be amended to weaken the law.

Write to:
The Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP
10 Downing Street
London SW1A 2AA

You can write to your own MP asking him/her to sign Brian Iddon’s EDM 589, ‘ASSISTED SUICIDE AND THE SUICIDE ACT 1961’ (see full text below), and to vote against any proposal to legalise assisted suicide.

Write to your MP:
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

Email your MP by clicking here (all you need is your postcode).

Always remember to give your own address, so they know you are in their constituency.

To find out the name of your MP, click here or phone the House of Commons information Office on 020 7219 4272.

EDM 589 ASSISTED SUICIDE AND THE SUICIDE ACT 196126.01.2009

Iddon, Brian
That this House welcomes the provisions in the Coroners and Justice Bill to bring the Suicide Act 1961 up to date by making clear that its provisions on assisting or encouraging suicide apply to the internet; notes the declared wishes of pro-euthanasia campaigners to see further amendments to the 1961 Act to permit assistance with suicide for vulnerable groups of people, including the terminally ill; observes that the Act combines a categoric prohibition of assisted suicide to deter abuse with an ability to assess the circumstances of apparent breaches of the law and, where appropriate, to deal compassionately with them; believes therefore that the Act, especially if amended as the Government proposes in the Coroners and Justice Bill, is working as it should; and calls on the House to reaffirm its support for a law which protects vulnerable people from abuse.

Update: 20th March, BBC NewsOnline reports that Patricia Hewitt has tabled an amendment to support assisted suicide – you can post your comments here