Christian Pro-lifers: Schiavo case Reveals Dangers of Mental Capacity Bill

The American Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube controversy has recently raised debate on euthanasia and "living will" across the world. Struggling between the so-called "right-to-die" and a general Christian ethic to respect life regardless of its stage and condition, pro-lifers in the UK has unanimously voiced their concern over the proposed Mental Capacity Bill which is now undergoing legal proceedings in the British Parliament to be added to the statute book.

The proposed Mental Capacity Bill introduced by Constitutional Affairs Minister David Lammy claims to reinforce the rights of the mentally incapacitated patients who are terminally ill or dying. Under the bill, these patients will be able to appoint a relative or friend to make future decisions on their behalf and will allow people with no-one to act for them to leave instructions regarding their future treatment.

UK’s leading Christian pro-life groups, such as the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) and the Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF), however have expressed worry that due to the complex circumstances that may arise in each single case, it is impossible for the proposed bill to lay down the necessary safeguard to prevent abuse of the Bill. Thus, the Bill would mean "legalising euthanasia by neglect and assisted suicide for vulnerable adults".

On Wednesday 24th March, the Mental Capacity Bill was approved by the House of the Lords without a division in the third reading, partly due to the departure of many Lords for the Easter Holiday.

SPUC and CMF are both very concerned and are looking to the next opportunity to protest against the current move. CMF and Lawyers' Christian Fellowship (LCF) will continue to urge the House of Lords to accept an amendment to the Mental Capacity Bill which would ensure that people granted power of attorney are not given authority to make life and death healthcare decisions on behalf of mentally incapacitated patients.

Earlier, a pro-life amendment to restrict lasting powers of attorney was defeated 118 to 18. The Bill will now return to the House of Commons on 5th April for the Commons to consider amendments made by the Government to the Bill in the House of Lords.

John Smeaton, SPUC national director, commented on the last reading of the Bill, "Scheduling such a crucial debate on a pro-life issue on such an inconvenient day and time shows contempt for democracy. Any member of the House of Commons who is concerned about euthanasia must do whatever is possible on 5th April to reverse the Bill's euthanasia nature. Parliament is on the brink - it can either preserve what is left of the sanctity of human life in our law or make the survival of the fittest the standard for our health service."

Apparently, the controversy in Terri Schiavo’s case has become strong real-life evidence to support the UK pro-lifers’ argument.

CMF General Secretary Peter Saunders said, "The tragic situation unfolding in the USA with Terri Schiavo illustrates the profound difficulties of granting an individual Power of Attorney to make life-and-death healthcare decisions for somebody without capacity. We don’t know what Terri really wanted, and whether her husband Michael is accurately describing her wishes or whether her parents and other family members taking the opposite view are correct. But the case illustrates how decisions made by those close to a patient can be swayed by personal interests and financial gain."

Public Policy Officer for LCF, Andrea Williams added, "The Schiavo case clearly illustrates why the proposed amendment should be passed. We strongly urge the House of Lords to follow the wise course it has already adopted with respect to Court Appointed deputies not having power over life and death, and accept the proposed amendment barring those with power of attorney from making life and death decisions."

Smeaton of SPUC warned, "The failure to address this problem will have profound repercussions. The passage of the Bill will mean that doctors will be forced to choose between killing some of their patients and leaving the profession. It will destroy what is left of medical ethics in this country."

Currently, the SPUC is planning to stage a mass lobby to the British Parliament at Westminster, London on 27th-28th April. People from across the country will visit Westminster to lobby their MPs about the amendment of the Bill. As this is one of the very last chances to overturn the crisis over euthanasia in the UK, many pro-lifers are expected to join the campaign.

SPUC, whose motto is "Defending human life with love from conception to natural death", has long been one of the leading organisations campaigning against euthanasia in Britain.

CMF is an interdenominational organisation with over 4,500 British doctor members in all branches of medicine. It is linked to about 60 similar bodies in other countries throughout the world. CMF exists to unite Christian doctors to pursue the highest ethical standards in Christian and professional life and to increase faith in Christ and acceptance of his ethical teaching.