Helping a dying person travel abroad to where euthanasia is legal will not be an offence, if a controversial amendment proposed in the House of Lords is passed.
The amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill, suggested by Lord Falconer of Thoroton last week, has divided opinions.
Britain risks “sleepwalking into euthanasia” if the amendment is passed, the pro-life Care Not Killing (CNK) association has warned.
Voluntary Euthanasia Society (VES) confirms that travelling abroad for assisted dying has already been happening for years.
The organisation’s spokesman, said: “Society has a choice; either to pretend it isn’t happening or confront it and deal with the problem in front of us.”
“Everyone would be better off if we confronted the issue and showed compassion towards those dying,” he added.
However, concerns have been expressed by those against the amendment. The CNK association supports that the change of the law may be misused. Non terminally ill people may be pressured to end their lives so as not to be a financial and care burden.
But a VES spokesman said that the new amendment will better safeguard that the decision will be taken only by terminally ill and mentally competent patients. Moreover, “they [terminally ill people] will also have to make a declaration themselves which will be witnessed by an independent person stating that this is their decision,” he added.
The amendment which is also backed by Baroness Jay is going through the House of Lords.
Belgium, Luxembourrg and The Netherlands all legalised voluntary euthanasia this year
0 comments so far
All comments are held for moderation. Yours should appear here shortly.