Date: Friday 7th July 2023
Release time: Immediate
Care Not Killing welcomes the German Parliament's clear rejection of "dangerous" assisted suicide bills.
The Bundestag rejected two proposals to legalise assisted suicide. Both draft laws shared the aim of creating a framework for those wanting to access the lethal drugs needed to kill themselves.
Speaking after the votes, Dr Gordon Macdonald, Chief Executive of Care Not Killing, commented:"We welcome this decision by the German Parliament to reject these dangerous bills. The German people know better than other nations from their own history how that once eugenics gets accepted in medicine, things can very quickly spiral downward with people being killed against their will by doctors. We are seeing that happen today in countries like Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada. People are being pressured into euthanasia because of lack of access to social care or the cost of healthcare.
"Worryingly many people are having their lives ended without their consent being obtained. Children, who can't give informed consent, are routinely have their lives ended by doctors in Belgium. In the Netherlands doctors even kill disabled infants with spinal bifida. Once so-called assisted dying is legalised, evidence shows that abuses occur and so called safeguards are eroded, removed or ignored."
Dr Macdonald continued:
"Members of Parliament, who will be asked to consider the findings of a Health and Social Care Committee report on assisted suicide and euthanasia later this year, should copy their German counterparts and reject any proposal to weaken our current laws in order to protect the vulnerable, elderly, poor and disabled people."
He concluded:
"Instead of revisiting a discussion about how to kill people, we should be discussing how to properly fund palliative and social care."
Ends
Editors Notes
Care Not Killing is a UK-based alliance bringing together over 40 organisations - human rights and disability rights organisations, health care and palliative care groups, faith-based organisations groups - and thousands of concerned individuals.
We have three key aims:
- to promote more and better palliative care;
- to ensure that existing laws against euthanasia and assisted suicide are not weakened or repealed;
- to inform public opinion further against any weakening of the law.
*As this story is dealing with suicide, please could we ask that you include details about organisations that offer help and support to vulnerable people who might be feeling suicidal such as the Samaritans, CALM or similar - Thank you.*
