17th November 2006

Commenting on "A guide for people who work in health and social care", issued by the Department of Constitutional Affairs, a spokesman for ALERT said today:

"The Government has outlined a one-way street towards death.

"This was created when the Appeal Court reversed the Munby judgment in the Leslie Burke case, at the behest of the Department of Health, and was codified in the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

"Patients' advance decisions must be respected if they refused treatment, but need not be heeded if assisted feeding and hydration ('treatment'), are requested. If there is no advance directive, the patient may still be deprived of fluid in his or her 'best interests'.

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Press Release 13th November 2006

"The Bishop of Southwark's submission to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics on the subject of sick babies may have been reasonable, but it was not harmless," said a spokesman for ALERT today (Monday, 13th November).

"It have already been taken to mean more than it did. In present circumstances, with hospital trusts under strong pressure to save money, and utilitarian medical ethics being preached from Princeton, it could lead to desperately worried parents being told 'There is nothing to be done for your child' when that was not true.

"In a recent Communicate Research opinion poll, 60% of the public were against leaving premature babies to die. We have not adopted the Nazi attitude to disabled children yet, but it needs to be fought all over again."

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STOP PRESS

Friday 12th May 12 a.m.

Rally to oppose Lord Joffe's "Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill" Bill opposite the House of Lords in Old Palace Yard near to the statue of George V.

Nearest Underground Westminster

PLEASE COME!

Commenting on the Law Commission`s report on the reform of the homicide law (press reports 20/12/05 ) the Medical Ethics Alliance said;

"By making so called 'mercy killings' a lesser offence, a serious injustice could be done to those who are terminally ill, severely disabled or incompetent. The recommendations in the report that would open the way to an enhanced defence of 'provocation' or 'diminished responsibility', could open the way to non custodial sentences being routine in cases where the victim was ill, even if nowhere near death.

"Already, in recent years a number of judgments and sentences could have led the public to think that not all lives are of equal value, and that some killings are virtually tolerated allowing the guilty to walk free.

"It should not be forgotten that euthanasia was first introduced into the Netherlands as a result of acquittals and an understanding between doctors and public prosecutors. This led to guidelines, which were widely disregarded and later led to permissive legislation.

"Britain should not embark on a similar slippery slope."

Dr Anthony Cole
Chairman
Medical Ethics Alliance

01905 352967

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For immediate release

24th February 2004

"No criticism of individual doctors, it's the system they work under"

In a landmark case to be held at the High Court on Thursday and Friday (26th/27th February 2004) Mr Leslie Burke of Lancaster is challenging the General Medical Council's guidelines on withholding and withdrawing fluid and nutrition from patients.

Mr Burke has Cerebellar Ataxia. As his condition progresses, although not dying, he may need food and fluid through artificial means. He fears that, under the present guidelines, doctors may be able to withdraw this even though he wishes to continue to receive this.

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