PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
EUTHANASIA (No. 2) (26 June 2002)

That this House notes the Lord Chancellor's Consultation Paper, 'Making Decisions: Helping People Who Have Difficulty Deciding For Themselves'; notes that groups consulted for the document included the Voluntary Euthanasia Society and the British Medical Association both of which promote euthanasia by omission; regrets the Lord Chancellor's failure to consult with the British Hospice movement, an international beacon of excellence in the care of the terminally ill and dying; notes that no pro-life, Christian, Jewish nor Muslim medical groups were consulted; notes the Lord Chancellor's document refers inquirers to the VES for guidance on living wills and medical teams to the BMA guidelines on the Withdrawal and Withholding of Life Prolonging Treatment, a document condemned by the Chief Rabbi, Muslim leaders, the Evangelical Alliance, the Roman Catholic Church and many others for its promotion of medical killing by the withdrawal of assisted food and fluid from a wide range of patients; notes that 'Making Decisions' in line with the recommendations from an earlier Government publication of the same title, envisages a reformed 'Court of Protection' which could be beneficial regarding financial problems and such like; but regrets that this court may be used to extend the practice of non-voluntary euthanasia by omission, even over-riding the wishes of families (or patients' advance directives) in denying assisted food and fluid; urges the Government to honour its pledge to oppose euthanasia; and calls upon it to introduce legislation outlawing the withdrawal of assisted food and fluid with the purpose of causing death in patients.

Sponsored by:
Jim Dobbin (Labour)