Printed from: https://www.cmf.org.uk/news/?id=115
In 2009 there is a new attempt in the Scottish Parliament to legalise assisted suicide. Margo MacDonald MSP has launched a public consultation on her proposed End of Life Choices (Scotland) Bill. You can access her full consultation document by:
CMF believes this is unethical, unnecessary and dangerous legislation which if enacted would put at risk the lives of vulnerable people: the elderly, depressed, disabled, lonely or sick. Particularly at this time of severe economic recession, many of these might come to believe themselves to be a financial and emotional burden to others.
The consultation closes on 9 March 2009, and after that Margo MacDonald will seek the signatures of 18 MSPs necessary to take the bill forward. We understand many MSPs have indicated they have not come to conclusions on the issue and will therefore be influenced by the correspondence they receive, particularly if that correspondence is from practising doctors.
Members in Scotland: Please write to your 8 MSPs (1 constituency and 7 regional), highlighting the reasons not to legalise assisted suicide and urging them not to support the End of Life Choices (Scotland) Bill. You can find out who your MSPs are online
You might also consider visiting your MSPs to make your points in person, and please also consider writing to Margo MacDonald directly and making similar points to her. MSPs will also be influenced by the number of responses that she receives, both for and against her proposals.
Resources:
CMF File 9 (2000) on Physician-Assisted Suicide
CMF File22 (2003) on Euthanasia
Care Not Killing's Scotland – in depth pages
Steven Fouch (CMF Head of Communications) 020 7234 9668
Alistair Thompson on 07970 162 225
Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) was founded in 1949 and is an interdenominational organisation with over 5,000 doctors, 900medical and nursing students and 300 nurses and midwives as members in all branches of medicine, nursing and midwifery. A registered charity, it is linked to over 100 similar bodies in other countries throughout the world.
CMF exists to unite Christian healthcare professionals to pursue the highest ethical standards in Christian and professional life and to increase faith in Christ and acceptance of his ethical teaching.
