Newsletter to CNK Supporters - 20 April 2009
To all supporters of Care Not Killing Alliance
This brief review updates you about recent developments. The links will take you to more detailed information both on the Care Not Killing Alliance website and on the internet.
Coroners’
and Justice Bill
This
Coroners’
and Justice Bill
has now cleared the House of Commons and all attempts to amend it
to allow assisted suicide, including a high profile bid by former
health secretary Patricia Hewitt, have so far failed. The Bill
has its second reading (debate stage) in the House of Lords on
Monday 27 April and thereafter passes to committee where we
expect further attempts will be made to hijack it by the
pro-euthanasia lobby. CNK Chairman Brian Iddon MP has put down an
EDM
on the Bill which has so far been signed by 84 MPs. This welcomes
the Bill’s provision to make it illegal to assist or
encourage suicide on the internet and calls on the House of
Commons to reaffirm its support for a law which protects
vulnerable people from abuse.
Moves
to legalise assisted dying in Scotland
In
our last newsletter we informed readers about Margo MacDonald
MSP’s public Consultation
Document
on her proposals for an 'End-of-Life Choices (Scotland) Bill'.
CNK’s full
response
has now been sent to Margo MacDonald and to all MSPs. We are now
waiting for Ms MacDonald to publish her bill. She will then
require 18 MSPs’ signatures in order to progress it
further. Whether she will get the required support remains to be
seen.
Dignitas
and Assisted Suicide
Suicide
is 'a marvellous possibility' according to Ludwig Minelli,
founder of the Dignitas suicide facility in Switzerland. Care Not
Killing has welcomed the BBC’s exposure of Dignitas but has
warned against a false conclusion. Read
more.
Debbie
Purdy to appeal to House of Lords
Debbie
Purdy,
who has multiple sclerosis, has been given leave to appeal to the
House
of Lords
in her bid to ensure her husband will not be prosecuted if he
helps her in an assisted suicide. Her previous appeal to the
Court of Appeal was turned down. Care
Not Killing
welcomed the decision not to require the Director of Public
Prosecutions to provide information about how decisions to
prosecute for assisted suicide are made.
Care
in the Community
Much
of our emphasis at Care Not Killing is on the care that
terminally or otherwise seriously ill people need. A recent BBC
Panorama programme has highlighted some shocking instances of
poor-quality care. We believe that better care, rather than
legalising assistance with suicide or the giving of lethal
injections, is the proper and civilised way to deal with chronic
or end-of-life illness. Read
more.
Spiritual
care
Spiritual
needs are the needs and expectations that human beings have to
find meaning and purpose in life. In a passionate article in the
Times
Melanie Reid has argued that ‘Hospitals have never needed
God more’. She also questions the National Secular
Society's suggestion that the margin of NHS funds spent on
hospital chaplains would be better spent elsewhere. Read CNK's
review.
What
it means to be old
A
thought-provoking article by AA Gill in the Sunday
Times
entitled ‘Old Age: State Care Homes are the Final Resort’,
has painted a picture of growing old in modern Britain. CNK
argues
that anyone who is able to read the article without feeling some
sense of guilt is either a rare saint or just hasn't grasped what
it is saying.
CNK
Director runs London marathon
CNK
Director Dr Peter Saunders is running the London marathon on 26
April to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society, the
leading UK care and research charity for people with Alzheimer's
disease and other dementias, their families and carers. Peter’s
father is terminally ill with dementia. If you would like to
sponsor him please visit his justgiving
website
or send a cheque made out to the Alzheimer’s Society to
CNK, PO Box 56322, London SE1 8XW.
Many thanks for your ongoing support
Care Not Killing Alliance
Care
Not Killing, PO Box 56322, London SE1 8XW
Tel: 020 7234 9680
Fax: 0871 900 4745
Email: info@carenotkilling.org.uk
Website:
http://www.carenotkilling.org.uk
Promoting palliative care. Opposing euthanasia
