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CLAIM: Bishop Nigel McCulloch
CLAIM: Bishop Nigel McCulloch

Child 'mercy killing' warning by bishop

Seb Ramsay
2/ 2/2006

THE Bishop of Manchester has hit out against euthanasia saying changes in the law could pave the way for the 'mercy killing' of unwanted children.

The Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch says Britain leads the world in allowing people to "die well".

And he believes attempts to introduce legislation allowing assisted suicide for the terminally ill could shatter the essential trust between doctors and patients.

Pro-euthanasia groups say Church leaders are not looking at the evidence and stress it is not a theological issue.

But Bishop Nigel warns in the Manchester Diocese magazine, Crux, that, despite a failed attempt to introduce legislation through the House of Lords, this is a subject that won't go away.

He said: "As some paediatricians have said, implicit in the legislative proposals is the possibility that assisted dying could eventually apply to children - not least those born unwanted or `damaged'.

"The slippery slope argument is much denied but already in Holland mercy killings have been extended to other groups."

Dignified

And he says most geriatricians and palliative care physicians are opposed to change.

He said: "With good palliative care, most deaths can be dignified and free from pain. This country is a world leader in palliative medicine and our hospice movement is a prime example of providing care that enables people to die well.

"The consequences of a change in the law would include extra pressure on vulnerable people at a time when they have lessened ability to make judgements.

"There could also be great damage to the trust and relationship between patient and doctor."

In February last year, a woman of 62 from Wigan with motor neurone disease was flown to Switzerland by her husband to be given a fatal injection. The woman, who has not been named, was in a nursing home with only the use of one arm, when the couple contacted Swiss charity Dignitas.

Arrested

Her husband couldn't accompany her as he would have been arrested when he arrived back in Britain.

A spokesman for pro-euthanasia's Dignity in Dying said four out of five Christians disagreed with the Bishop.

He said: "They realise this is not a theological issue, it is one about human beings asking to be treated with compassion when they are in enormous distress with a terminal illness.

"The law has been safely changed in Oregon, while in Britain, people are going abroad for help to die or committing suicide, or being helped to die in secret.

"It's time for Church leaders to put away their prejudices and pay attention to the evidence before their own eyes."

IS the Bishop right to warn of mercy killings? Have your say.

PLUS: Take part in our Poll of the Day.


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Most recent 2 of 19 user comments

   Dignity in Dying represents the wishes of 80% of the public, including a similar number of regular church- goers, who have consistantly shown in polls that they wish the law to be changed to enable those who are terminally ill and suffering more than they wish to bear. to be able to end their suffering at a time of their choosing. They do not wish to deny the vociferous minority against assisted dying the choice to end their lives suffering to the bitter end. And would expect them to accord the majority their choice. My late wife ended her life in a hopice. When asked on entering if she had any regrets, she replied:"not to have my life ended now". This she new was not possible. So although constantly drugged with oramorph her medical records, of which I have a copy, state over the time before she died as follows: Anxiety; savere pain; very breathless and in pain; very distressed;distress;Insomnia; extremely agitated. All this, in what is seen as a good hospice, to drag out her life pointlessly for two last weeks.
Ivan Martin, Hertfordshire
27/01/2007 at 23:00

Offensive or Inappropriate?

    Has the Bishop of Manchester heard the news that the Church of England now agrees that doctors should allow sick new born babies to die. The Bishop of Southwark, Tom Butler, has now argued, on the Church's behalf, that there are occasions when it is compassionate to leave a severely disabled child to die. Had this statement been made by anyone who supports assisted dying there would have been an outcry by members of organizations such as Care not Killing and The Christian Medical Fellowship along with churches in general. It was these and other religious pressure groups that were largely instrumental in influencing the vote, and in the case of the church's bishops their act of blocking Lord Joffe's Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill last May at its second reading in the House of Lords.l would hope that as a member of Dignity in Dying many more people will support our objective that the terminally ill have a right to determine when they have had enough suffering and lose of dignity: they would never wish to deny others the choice of suffering to the bitter end. Any reader of this who is interested can contact: info@dignityindying.org.uk
Ivan Martin, Hertfordshire
14/11/2006 at 23:51

Offensive or Inappropriate?

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EUTHANASIA DEBATE
 

Is mercy killing ever right?

YES
71%
NO
29%

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