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21/05/2003
Robinson hits out at euthanasia bill
Democratic Unionist Health Spokesperson, Iris Robinson MP, has hit out at a House of Lords Bill that would legalise euthanasia in the UK.
Mrs Robinson has demanded all Northern Ireland’s members of the House of Lords oppose it and said that Lord Joffe’s Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill, which has its second reading in the House of Lords on June 6th, would legalise Dutch-style euthanasia throughout Britain.
The Strangford MP said: "I encourage Northern Ireland’s members of the House of Lords to oppose this dangerous Bill. It proposes to legalise euthanasia for any patient with a terminal or serious physical illness who describes ‘unbearable suffering’. All that is required is for two doctors to declare the patient is of sound mind and that he or she made the request voluntarily."
In 1994 the House of Lords opposed changing the law in this way concluding, “it was virtually impossible to ensure that all acts of euthanasia were truly voluntary and that any liberalisation of the law in the United Kingdom could not be abused”.
"Euthanasia violates the Hippocratic Oath, Declaration of Geneva and International Code of Medical Ethics. Alternative treatments already exist that render euthanasia unnecessary.
"Elderly people often feel a burden and could feel pressurised into agreeing to be killed. In the Netherlands like Nazi Germany, voluntary quickly became involuntary euthanasia. This Bill must be vigorously opposed," Mrs Robinson concluded.
(MB)
Mrs Robinson has demanded all Northern Ireland’s members of the House of Lords oppose it and said that Lord Joffe’s Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill, which has its second reading in the House of Lords on June 6th, would legalise Dutch-style euthanasia throughout Britain.
The Strangford MP said: "I encourage Northern Ireland’s members of the House of Lords to oppose this dangerous Bill. It proposes to legalise euthanasia for any patient with a terminal or serious physical illness who describes ‘unbearable suffering’. All that is required is for two doctors to declare the patient is of sound mind and that he or she made the request voluntarily."
In 1994 the House of Lords opposed changing the law in this way concluding, “it was virtually impossible to ensure that all acts of euthanasia were truly voluntary and that any liberalisation of the law in the United Kingdom could not be abused”.
"Euthanasia violates the Hippocratic Oath, Declaration of Geneva and International Code of Medical Ethics. Alternative treatments already exist that render euthanasia unnecessary.
"Elderly people often feel a burden and could feel pressurised into agreeing to be killed. In the Netherlands like Nazi Germany, voluntary quickly became involuntary euthanasia. This Bill must be vigorously opposed," Mrs Robinson concluded.
(MB)
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