Pro-life coalition to intervene in Pretty case

London, 1 November 2001--A coalition of pro-life organisations is seeking to intervene in the appeal to the House of Lords by Mrs Diane Pretty.

Paul Tully, general secretary of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), said: "Those backing Mrs Pretty are determined to undermine the right to life of severely disabled people in order to promote the cause of medical killing. It is vital that this case is seen in the wider context of the pressures which might be brought to bear on handicapped people to opt for death."

Mrs Pretty wants to be helped to die by a member of her family and for that person to be given immunity from prosecution. The coalition intervened in the case in the high court on the 18th of last month. The coalition comprises Alert, the Medical Ethics Alliance and SPUC.