Christians concerned by MPs' Debate on 'Back-Door' Euthanasia Bill

Whilst the report on misuse of Euthanasia was being reported in the Netherlands, UK pro-lifers and Christian bodies have raised their voices against the drafted Mental Capacity Bill, which may put many lives at risk by legalising euthanasia "by the back door".

The Mental Capacity Bill would establish a legal presumption that everybody is able to make decisions regarding treatment unless proved otherwise. It would allow people to empower somebody else to make decisions on their behalf. Critics fear the plans could allow "killing by omission" through withdrawing treatment.

The Making Decisions Alliance, which includes the Alzheimer's Society, Age Concern, Mencap and the National Autistic Society, said misunderstandings over the bill had to be cleared up. The British Medical Association however have backed the bill, saying it just gives incapacitated people the same rights as others.

The Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) and Lawyers' Christian Fellowship (LCF) have been the Christian professionals that have been extremely outspoken in opposing the bill.

Chairman Peter Saunders of the CMF said, "CMF is concerned that patients will make unwise and hasty advance decisions to refuse food and fluids without being properly informed about the diagnosis and the expected course their illness will take."

Andrea Williams of LCF said there were "too many loopholes that could be abused by unscrupulous doctors".

The Catholic Bishops' of England and Wales also urges the Government to take further action to prevent the Mental Capacity Bill becoming a vehicle of euthanasia.

In the latest statement, Archbishop of Cardiff Peter Smith, Chairman of the Department for Christian Responsibility and Citizenship of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales said, "We have greatly valued the reasoned debate we have had with the Government over this Bill, and we welcome those amendments which have already been made to improve and strengthen the proposed legislation."

However, the Bishops insisted that even though significant changes had been made to the draft bill, there were still two serious weaknesses that needed to be changed.

"But we still have serious reservations that there remains a real danger of the Bill permitting proxy decision makers to act with a purpose of deliberately bringing about a person’s death by refusing treatment in circumstances when otherwise the life of that person could and should be properly sustained. Among amendments which are being proposed, at least two would close the gap and we strongly urge the Government to accept them and ensure that there would then be no danger of allowing, even unintentionally, euthanasia by omission," the statement said.