The need to protect ourselves and our loved ones by J O H N S M E AT O N
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lthough several attempts to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide in the UK have failed in recent years, in reality, the practice of passive euthanasia of those who are seriously ill or mentally incapacitated is growing in hospitals. Ten years ago, Paul Tully, SPUC’s general secretary at the time, wrote: “Intentional killing by neglect has become more entrenched in England and Wales since the passing of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 [legislation which SPUC fought very hard to defeat]. This was designed to permit doctors to end the lives of certain seriously ill or disabled people by withholding treatment and care – including even food and fluids in some cases. Without water, people die. Although active euthanasia (such as giving patients a lethal injection) remains rare in our experience, passive euthanasia is a major problem.”
A U T UMN 2021
SPUC has seen numerous cases where family and friends are powerless to ensure the continuation of basic care and hospital treatment for their incapacitated loved ones. Dying of thirst is a most horrible and painful way to die. The only certain way to seek to avoid that situation in which all of us could find ourselves is to make appropriate preparations in good time and to put in place a Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Care Decisions (LPA). A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you (the “donor”) appoint one or more people (known as “attorneys”) to make welfare decisions on your behalf, including decisions about medical and clinical treatment, in accordance with the instructions which you have expressed, in the event of your becoming mentally incapacitated, in accordance with sections 2 and 3 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. To facilitate that, SPUC has consulted the Society’s most dedicated and experienced medical and legal advisers and drafted guidance that sets out clearly what steps need to be taken in good time to protect ourselves and our loved ones for the time
pro-life action
NO TO PASSIVE EUTHANASIA
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