British Section of the World Federation of Doctors Who Respect Human Life

In its submission to the House of Lords Select Committee on the Assisted Dying Bill, the Linacre Centre for Healthcare Ethics noted:

"It is often said that euthanasia will be better controlled where it can be freely reported. In fact the Dutch experience shows widespread underreporting, in addition to widespread disregard of other guidelines. About half the cases of 'euthanasia' and 'assisted suicide' revealed by the 2001 survey went unreported, as did 99% of cases of termination of life without the patient's request, 100% of cases of intentional lethal overdose of painkillers (whether requested or unrequested), and a huge majority of cases where the patient killed was a child."

Ron Panzer, President of the Hospice Patients Alliance. USA, reports that a notice from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organisation (NHPCO), the largest hospice industry lobbying group in the nation, confirms that all rights to Last Acts Partnership (formerly Partnership for Caring) were obtained and are now controlled by NHPCO. Partnership for Caring had previously merged with Choice in Dying (formerly the Euthanasia Society of America). "So, the NHPCO, the organisation looked to as representing the hospice industry nationwide has absorbed and never repudiated the agenda of the former Euthanasia Society of America."

Britain's own Voluntary Euthanasia has decided to give itself a new name, too. (VE News, Summer 2005). "Caring" seems likely to come into it somewhere.

The Daily Mail of 10th July reported a vote against euthanasia and assisted dying in the General Synod of the Church of England, of 243 to 1. The Archbishop of Canterbury, for once giving a clear message, said "This is not simply a debate about medical ethics, it's about economic ethics. In a climate where the pressure is all towards a functionalised, reduced style of healthcare provision, this [assisted dying] must be a very, very tempting option to save money and resources."

C of E General Synod rejects euthanasia

Dr. Michael Irwin, former chairman of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society, said he would continue his fight to legalise doctor-assisted suicide after being found guilty of acting "unprofessionally, inappropriately and irresponsibly" by the General Medical Council, the Daily Telegraph reported on 28 Sept. 05. He "travelled to Patrick Kneen's home in the Isle of Man in 2003 with the intention of helping him to die," though he did not actually do so. He had prescribed a Class C drug in his own name. Dr. Irwin plans to appeal to the High Court.

ALERT commented in a statement: "We congratulate the General Medical Council on their action in this case. Thank goodness they are on this occasion upholding medical ethics and the safety of patients."

"Uganda has recorded declining rates of HIV infection since 1993," Personal Update (Ireland) reports, September 2005. "Among pregnant women the rate of HIV rose from 24 per cent in 1989 to 30 per cent in 1992, but by 1999 it had dropped to 10 percent, according to the latest figures from the AIDS Control Programme (ACP) in the Ministry of Health. Among patients suffering from sexually transmitted infections at Uganda's leading hospital, Mulago, HIV infection rates fell from 44.2 per cent in 1989 to 23 per cent in 1999.

"The Government's campaign to make abstinence the first call went counter to the accepted wisdom of western AIDS professionals and was in huge contrast to neighbouring countries like South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia.

"In Botswana, 38 per cent of pregnant women were HIV positive in 2003, compared to 6.2 per cent of Ugandan women."

"Eleven elderly patients on the same hospital ward were deliberately starved to death, an Inquest was told yesterday." (Daily Telegraph, 19 Jan. 05) They suffered from dementia, and were nursed on the Rowsley Ward at the Kingsway Hospital Hospital, Derby. "The patients, all men aged between 67 and 93, died after having their food and drink needlessly withdrawn, according to relatives."

A retired High Court judge who was conducting the inquiry, Sir Richard Rougier, said "If food and fluids were withdrawn in the belief that it was the lesser of two evils, committing them to die in as much comfort and dignity as possible, it would be grossly unfair to record a verdict other than that of natural causes." So "natural causes" he ruled, in all the cases.

We are enclosing the tribute to the late Dame Cicely Saunders written by Wesley J. Smith, the American writer and broadcaster, because it is one readers will not have seen.

An obituary in the New York Times on July 31st did not mention the crucial fact that the pioneer of excellent care for the dying was totally opposed to euthanasia.

The Commission for Social Care Inspection has been urged to update the system following investigation into a number of deaths at the Maypole Nursing Home, now closed.

"'This case highlights the gaps in the system. Relatives are not trained to see abuse and GP's should not be able to sign their own death certificates - there is a conflict of interest,' said Gary FitzGerald, chief executive of Elder Abuse" (Guide 2 Care, 15 September 05.)

Peaceful UK Life League protesters against forced abortions and imprisonment without trial in China were allowed to assemble on the pavement outside the Chinese Embassy in Portland Place, London on 24 Sept. 05, - the first time the Metropolitan Police have allowed anyone near. "It took the preparing of papers for a judicial review yesterday for the Met to climb down," co-ordinator Jim Dowson reported.