Pro-Life Times: May 2001

Voters beware of euthanasia bill say RC bishops

John Smeaton

In a pre-election statement Roman Catholic bishops in England and Wales have warned of the possibility that a bill to legalise euthanasia will be introduced in the next Parliament. The bishops emphasise the gravity of euthanasia as a moral issue, which undermines the dignity of the human person at the most profound level.

The statement titled Vote for the Common Good, says that euthanasia is nothing less than murder. The Lord Chancellor has been poised for some time to introduce legislation for dehydrating and starving severely disabled people. In England and Wales this has been tolerated since 1993, but court approval is required in each case. Legislation is seen as the next move towards extending doctors' licence to kill.

The bishops discuss euthanasia alongside abortion and state that in legalising the latter our country has "failed in this most fundamental obligation" to protect the lives of the vulnerable. The bishops focus on three key areas which voters should take into account

the mounting threats to the family and marriage,
the right to life,
poverty.

The statement does not tell people which way to vote, but gives a clear call to believers to exercise their right to vote and to do so with particular concern for moral and social issues. The bishops urge people not to withold their vote out of "indifference, apathy or cynicism". Underpinning the whole statement is the responsibility that voters have not to choose the candidate they are going to vote for on the basis of habit or self-interest.

Last month Holland was the first country in the world to legalise euthanasia, and the pro-euthanasia lobby are confident that other European countries will soon follow. (See back page for full report.)

We're voting pro-life

Joseph, Patrick and Elizabeth Johnson from Stockton, are first-time voters. "We're all voting pro-life," says Elizabeth. "We want to know how our candidates will vote on pro-life issue before we decide who to support. There are lots of social issues which we are concerned about, but the right to life comes first."

Mum and Dad, Terry and Geraldine, are active local pro-life campaigners. "We're really glad that our children have decided to use their votes to protect unborn babies and other members of our society. They want a world in which human life is treated with care and love, not killed for convenience."

Morning-after pill faces judicial review

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children has won permission to bring a high court challenge to the sale of morning-after pills by pharmacists. The drug works by causing an early abortion in many cases. Health risks for users and legal risks for pharmacists are also key objections. SPUC must raise £90,000 to cover the costs. The hearing is expected in July.

Comment

John Glass

We live in a disposable society. The retention of relationships is, for an increasing number, for as long as is 'convenient'. Our Kleenex culture has the potential to further subvert an already shaky social structure when abortion is seen as no more than a 'tidying up process' for an inconveniently cluttered life.

We are increasingly environmentally aware, but a nation's priorities have to be reassessed when the population deems it more trendy to 'save a tree' than to save an unborn child.

Pro-life people must never shrink from articulating this vital message and seeking to recalibrate the priorities of our politicians by respectful lobbying. What an indictment on our world when the most dangerous place to be is not an adult in Beirut, but a baby in the womb.

A verse in Psalm 11 says, "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Perhaps there are three things - protest, model a different lifestyle and pray.

John Glass is the General Superintendent of the Elim Pentecostal churches. He is the author of three books, the latest of which, Released from the Snare, has just been published. He has been a member of SPUC for many years.

British morning-after pill policy copied worldwide

Staff reporter

Britain's policy of promoting the morning-after pill without prescription is being taken up in other countries around the globe, despite the failure of the drug to cut abortion statistics or out-of-wedlock pregnancies. The western industrialised powers at the UN have fought intensively to get formal agreement to promote the early-abortion drug in poorer countries.

"Blind ideology and ruthless greed are the driving force behind this drug," said pro-life UN lobbyist, Peter Smith. Commercial interests and groups like the United Nations Population Fund are pressing for wider distribution. A succession of countries have followed the British lead this year:

Chile, where the health minister said she was advised that such pills were not harmful.
El Salvador, where it has been reported that the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has been distributing abortifacient drugs and devices to earthquake victims.
Portugal, where the parliament has approved the free distribution of morning-after pills from pharmacies, hospitals and health centres. Spain, where pharmacists have been called on to resist the forthcoming policy, by José Carlos Areses, president of the Spanish Association of Catholic Pharmacists.
South Africa, where the drug is also available without a prescription.

The latest critic of the policy is the British pressure group, the Christian Institute. Director Colin Hart told the Pro-Life Times, "I believe that the 'sex without the consequences' message sent out by the widespread availability of the morning-after pill is far stronger than the drug. In other words, promoting its use will actually put up the teenage pregnancy rate."

Milburn pledges legislation for human cloning

John Forest

Alan Milburn, Minister for Health, has announced new legislation that is expected to authorise human cloning. It would be introduced by a Labour Government very soon after the election. In a speech last month, which appeared to condemn some forms of cloning, Mr. Milburn made clear the Government's support for creating carbon-copy embryos for spare parts surgery. The Government also supports genetic screening techniques which involve "reproductive cloning".

SPUC spokesman Paul Tully said, "Mr Milburn's statement was a blatant attempt to obscure the Government's promotion of human cloning. He introduced secondary issues into his speech like life insurance and NHS staffing. He seemed desperate to talk about anything except the ethics of cloning."

Mr Tully continued, "The new legislation will neither stop the creation of cloned embryos, nor give them proper protection when they are created."

The determination of the UK Government to promote cloning techniques has been condemned by the European Parliament. Recent debates on cloning led to approval of new areas for embryo research, but Parliament has not yet voted explicitly to permit cloning. The form of Mr Milburn's announcement suggests that MPs will not be able to oppose cloning without opposing a raft of other "genetic revolution" measures.

News in brief

Israel

A bill to legalise passive euthanasia has been expanded by a committee of legislators. The measure to introduce so-called living wills had already received its first reading in the Israeli parliament, but members of the Knesset law committee have now recommended additional provisions such as the validity of body signals to confirm a wish for passive euthanasia and the authority of an attorney to request passive euthanasia on behalf of an (incapacitated) patient. (The Jerusalem Post)

London

A senior judge has authorised the withdrawal of food and fluids from a 73-year-old woman who has been in a coma since having a stroke in 1993. Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss granted the request from the unidentified woman's family, though the hospital believed that the patient might retain some awareness. (The Times)

Paris

President Jacques Chirac of France has criticised the British decision to authorise research on cloned human embryos and has called for an international ban on all human cloning. (The Times)

A new 'valley of death'

John Smeaton, National Director, SPUC

During a recent visit to Poland, where I spoke about the attacks on the dignity of human life in Britain and many other countries, I made a memorable visit to the death camps in Auschwitz and Birkenhau. The landscape of Auschwitz is virtually unaltered since liberation. The crimes against humanity committed there are all too real as you walk around the solid brick buildings. It could all have been happening yesterday. However, starvation and dehydration to death are not crimes of yesterday. They are happening today in British hospitals with government support.

The government speaks in terms of "certain serious healthcare decisions which can currently be made by a court, such as the withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration from a patient in permanent vegetative state or similar condition".

It has backed BMA guidance which promotes withdrawal of food and drink in an even wider range of circumstances than currently allowed by English courts, including patients who have suffered a serious stroke or have severe dementia. Furthermore, the government backs legislation to enshrine the BMA's pro-euthanasia position in law whilst asserting that withdrawing food and fluids from patients who are not dying is not euthanasia!

In the meantime, tragic developments follow one another, with Holland becoming the first nation in the 21st century to legalise active euthanasia, and news from Israel that a bill to legalise so-called passive euthanasia is being expanded by a committee of legislators. Surely, Israel of all countries, will step back from the brink of this new valley of death opening up all over the world.

Before we vote, let us also remember that legalised euthanasia is directly related to the legalisation of abortion. The latter provided the foothold for a culture of death which has led to euthanasia. Please say the prayer from our guest columnist.

Father, thank you for the gift of life. Forgive us for those times when we have not defended the unborn as we should. Strengthen our arms so that your people will not become "weary in well-doing" and so that, with tenacity, we may be empowered to act as an advocate for those who have, as yet, no voice to be heard.

Nurses who want to care not kill

Richard Shaw

Teresa Lynch believes nurses must act to preserve the ethos of care in their profession "The whole meaning of 'care' has been altered without apparent consultation," said Teresa Lynch. "The British Medical Association (BMA) has issued guidelines which state, for instance, that tube feeding to sustain life is part of medical treatment rather than basic care, and as such can be withdrawn. My view is that feeding is a basic human right, not a medical treatment. Nurses should not have to starve patients on doctors' orders. They should not be required to inflict symptoms of hunger and thirst on patients as a consequence."

Withdrawing food and fluids in order to bring about death places nurses in a very difficult situation, Teresa points out. "A doctor gives the orders to withdraw tube feeding, but it's the nurse who has to remove the tube.

"I have experienced a situation some years ago where feeding was ordered to be withdrawn with the obvious intent of ending a patient's life. As a nurse I knew this to be wrong, so an impossible conflict resulted. This meant I had to leave a senior post. Reports of tube feeding being withdrawn from patients have escalated in recent years.

It is imperative that nurses take a stand on principle when put under pressure by doctors or anyone who wishes to override the ethos of care for patients. Nurses know when patients feel threatened and we must be able to safeguard and reassure vulnerable individuals."

Increasingly, Teresa is being contacted by nurses who are worried about what they are having to deal with in their daily work. "We will provide guidelines to help nurses. Until now, there has been nothing within the profession to support those nurses who are opposed to euthanasia. Unless we address this now, I can envisage a future in which people who are opposed to euthanasia are effectively excluded from a career in nursing."

While Teresa feels that the nursing profession is becoming aware of the difficulties posed for its members by euthanasia, she is also conscious that many are becoming conditioned to the situation. "My greatest fear," she says, "is that the UK situation will mirror the situation in Holland before the recent legislation. Ending a life becomes a medical decision, determined by the patient's state of health, often without reference to the person's wishes.

"The future of my profession is in jeopardy if doctors, politicians and judges follow this path. Palliative care may no longer be viewed as a caring option for those needing symptom relief. "The heartless and cruel reality of euthanasia is exposed by the nurse's perspective. For us the issue of euthanasia, which is often debated in legalistic and abstract terms, means standing by and watching people we should be caring for die of thirst and starvation. "My hope is that Nurses Opposed to Euthanasia will be nationwide movement offering real help and support to any nurse whose professionalism is compromised."

Membership of Nurses Opposed to Euthanasia is open to all qualified and student nurses. Interested nurses can contact Teresa Lynch RGN RNT on (020) 7341 9086.

From the desk of Joanna Bogle

Busy in Kent

A series of talks was organised by pro-life campaigners in Kent this Spring. Held in Canterbury, the weekly talks covered topics including euthanasia, the role of women and cloning. Among the speakers were Dr Tony Cole, who runs the Medical Ethics Alliance, plus two Bogles on two separate evenings. My husband Jamie spoke as a lawyer about the threat posed by moves to introduce euthanasia. I joined Philippa Forsdike, chairman of SPUC's national executive committee, to tackle the question of feminism, women and the pro-life cause. Attendance was good. Well done to all the organisers.

A well deserved honour

More good news from the Cambridge University pro-life team. Medical student Beata Klepacka, has been chosen as one of the four Catholic Women of the Year 2001. If you are interested in attending the presentation (funds raised go to a charity helping hurricane victims in South America) contact: Mrs A Wheatley, 4 Ridgeway Gardens, London SW19.

A good read for young women

For some time now an increasing number of pro-lifers, myself included, have been concerned about the sordid and sexually aggressive messages put across by many teenage magazines. So it's great to be able to offer an alternative. I've just been handed the latest issue of Tamezin, an excellent, full-colour, glossy magazine produced by a team of youngsters in London This issue is packed with good things from beauty tips to a lively account of helping people in a Mexican village. A really good read. Send £5 for a subscription to: Tamezin, 1 Chelsea Embankment, London SW3 4LG or telephone 020 7352 2515.

A happy day

Youth and the future were very much the themes at the "Celebrate Life" gathering at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire in April. This was a fund raising event for the pro-life charities and all sorts of groups were there; LIFE, Youth 2000, SPUC Educational Research Trust, ALERT (which opposes euthanasia) and the Order of Christian Unity. A notable speaker was Lord Cranborne, who in his capacity as a leading member of the House of Lords urged pro-life campaigners to keep on speaking out and upholding the truth.

A date for your diary

SPUC's annual national conference is taking place 7-9 September 2001 at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. There is a marvellous line-up of speakers including Alison Davis (featured on the back page of this issue) who'll be talking about the disabled person's perspective on cloning, Teresa Lynch the founder of Nurses Opposed to Euthanasia (see article above), Jeanne Head from Manhattan Right to Life, talking about the pro-life campaign at the United Nations. Ring 020 7222 5845 for more details and to book your place.

Let's have care and compassion in Britain, not euthanasia

Four people give their views

Dr Richard Lamerton, Medical Director, Hospice of the Valley, South Wales

"Death is not the solution to any problem. With the rise of the hospice movement in the 1970s we rejected that solution. The result is that each year we can state that more and more of the problems of dying people are being solved. Pain was the first to be cracked. We can now cope with such discomforts as vomiting.

"We are able to give a far more positive response than in Holland where the hospice movement has remained rudimentary. Dutch doctors are telling patients that pain is something you just have to accept unless you opt for euthanasia."

Ann Rogers cared for her son James, who was in a persistent vegetative state for thirteen years in her own home, until his natural death last year. "James gave us a unique experience. His life was truly remarkable. Although unable to speak, he radiated such courage and such love that he touched the lives of everyone involved with him. "One of the nurses who looked after him had lost her baby. She would often go up to James and talk to him on her own. This helped her to get over her own loss. "None of this would have happened if his food and fluids had been withdrawn."

Doctor Peter Millard, Professor Emeritus of Geriatric Medicine

"If we have euthanasia our care for the elderly and their families is going to be run down. Families need support and we must campaign for quality care for the elderly. "Nowadays we treat the sick and elderly as though they were on a factory conveyor belt. "The remarkable thing is that the problems in geriatric care only come with a small number of people. You only need to manage the care of these people correctly for the whole system to function properly."

Alison Davis has spina bifida and is a wheelchair user. She is co-ordinator of the SPUC Handicap Division. "Dutch legalisation of euthanasia gives a veneer of respectability to the killing of sick and disabled people. Claims of 'strict criteria' are a smokescreen; all they serve to do is to ensure that only vulnerable people - those generally considered to be 'better off dead' - are killed. "Euthanasia, by its very nature, implies that some people have made the 'right' choice in wanting to die and that they should be killed instead of receiving proper palliative care and support services."

Dutch give doctors licence to kill

Paul Burnell

Holland has become the first country in the world to give doctors the full legal right to kill ailing patients. The upper house of the Dutch Parliament approved a euthanasia bill in April, by 46-28 votes following an earlier vote by the nation's Lower House.

Before the vote, Health Minister Els Borst claimed the law could not be abused by doctors because of supervisory provisions. However, in the weeks preceding the debate, the upper house was swamped with more than 60,000 letters, most urging opposition to the bill.

Euro-MP Maria Martens of Nijmegen who fought the law in Holland and promoted an anti-euthanasia motion in the European Parliament, reported in the Pro-Life Times March 2001, told journalists, "I think we have done what we had to do. We expressed our opposition in Parliament, we have mobilised social and religious groups, and collected signatures in Catholic, Protestant and Jewish organisations."

In theory, under Dutch law, a patient has to be experiencing irremediable and unbearable suffering, be aware of all other medical options and have sought a second professional opinion. The request must be made voluntarily, persistently and independently while the patient is of sound mind.

Critics point out that several studies have revealed that the country's already liberal approach to voluntary euthanasia had led to involuntary euthanasia being practised routinely. The new law also allows patients to leave a written request for euthanasia, giving doctors the right to use their own discretion when patients become too physically or mentally ill to decide for themselves. Doctors can kill only legal residents of the Netherlands.