Search
Close this search box.

[Eng. Prayer] UK medical and religious circles oppose legalising assisted suicide.

▲ Sources: thearc.org

“For You have delivered me from death.”

[Oct. 28. 2021] While the assisted suicide bill was being debated in the British Senate on the 17th of October, the medical and religious circles strongly protested against the legalisation of assisted suicide.

Some 1,700 doctors and nurses have said they will refuse to take part in assisted suicides if the practice is legalised, Christian Today (CT) UK reported on the 21st October.

Baroness Meacher’s Assisted Dying Bill is being debated by peers in the House of Lords on the 17th of October.

It proposes changing the law so that the terminally ill with less than six months to live can request assistance in the form of lethal drugs to end their lives.

But doctors and nurses have expressed “great concern” over the proposals as they warn that any change to the law will leave the vulnerable at risk of “abuse” and undermine the patient-doctor relationship.

In a joint letter sent to Health Secretary Sajid Javid ahead of the debate, they warn parliamentarians not to overlook the enormity of the proposed shift.

“As healthcare professionals, we have a legal duty of care for the safety and wellbeing of our patients. Therefore, we write with great concern regarding the introduction of a Bill to legalise assisted suicide.” And they added, “The prohibition of killing is present in almost all civilised societies due to the immeasurable worth of every human life.”

The letter says that it is “impossible” for any government to legislate against extension or expansion of the laws in the future, something critics fear will happen because of trends in countries where assisted suicide is already legal, like Canada, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

“Canada has demonstrated that safeguards can be eroded in a matter of just five years,” they warn.
“The prohibition of killing is the safeguard. The current law is the protection of the vulnerable.”

“Any change would threaten society’s ability to safeguard vulnerable patients from abuse. It would undermine the trust the public places in physicians, and it would send a clear message to our frail, elderly and disabled patients about the value that society places on them as people.”, they appealed.

Dr. David Randall, a medical registrar from London, stated: “This letter emphasises just how much opposition there is within medicine to the legalisation of assisted suicide. The current law works well, protecting the vulnerable and allowing us to deliver to patients the kind of compassionate, individualised care to which we aspire.”

Their concerns were echoed by religious leaders in another significant intervention this week.

In a joint letter to peers, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Chief Rabbi, and the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England said that efforts to support the terminally ill should be focused on “assisted living” rather than “assisted dying”. (Source: Gospel Prayer Newspaper).

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. (Psalms 56:3,13)

God, may You stop the legalisation attempt of assisted suicide in the U.K. May the U.K. government pay attention to the voices of the medical team and religious leaders and learn from the countries where assisted suicide is already legal and have ethical issues. May they acknowledge the dangers behind the new bill’s implication and stop taking away the lives of the vulnerable. May the churches preach the gospel to those considering assisted suicide that may they trust You and overcome the fear of death and have eternal life.

Prayer 24·365
prayer@prayer24365.org

실시간 기도정보

W_1122 A긴급기도
11월22일 긴급기도
▲ 우크라 아동 50만 명, 안전 등 즉각적 위험 직면 국제아동권리 비정부기구(NGO) 세이브더칠드런은 우크라이나에서 태어난 약 50만 명의 아동이 폭력, 폭격, 가족 이산의 고통에 처해 있다며 우려했다고 20일 연합뉴스가 전했다. 이 아동들은 안전과...
W_1121 P필리핀
[필리핀] 빈민촌 교회와 성도들, 화재로 큰 피해…도움의 손길 절실
“내가 반석 위에 내 교회를 세우리니 음부의 권세가 이기지 못하리라” 필리핀 민다나오섬의 카가얀 데 오로에 있는 빈민촌에서 대형 화재가 발생해 약 166채의 가옥이 파괴되고 200여 가구의 주민들이 대피했다고 현지 언론 GMA, INQUIRER(인콰이어러)...
w_1121 A긴급기도
11월21일 긴급기도
▲ 에콰도르, 극심한 가뭄‧산불로 60일 국가비상사태 선포 극심한 가뭄과 그에 따른 산불로 몸살을 앓고 있는 에콰도르가 60일간 국가비상사태를 선포했다고 뉴스1이 19일 CNN을 인용해 전했다. 이네스 만자노 에콰도르 국가재난안전위원회 회장은 지난...
W_1120 P멕시코
[멕시코] 멕시코 원주민 보호법 개정안, 기독교인 박해 심화시켜
“네 하나님 여호와를 사랑하고 그의 명령과 법도를 지키라” 멕시코가 토착 사회에서 지역의 관행과 전통을 행하도록 법률을 개정했다. 그러자 일각에서는 토착민 권리의 승리라며 환영했으나, 한편에서는 기독교인에 대한 박해를 오히려 심화시킬 위험이 있다는...
W_1120 A긴급기도
11월20일 긴급기도
▲ 유럽연합 “中 신장서 러시아 군사용 드론 생산” 유럽연합(EU)이 중국 신장에서 러시아군 군사용 드론이 생산되고 있다는 결정적 증거를 확보했다고 뉴시스가 17일 홍콩 사우스차이나모닝포스트(SCMP)를 인용해 전했다. EU 고위 관계자는 SCMP에...
W_1122 A긴급기도
11월22일 긴급기도
W_1121 P필리핀
[필리핀] 빈민촌 교회와 성도들, 화재로 큰 피해…도움의 손길 절실
w_1121 A긴급기도
11월21일 긴급기도
W_1120 P멕시코
[멕시코] 멕시코 원주민 보호법 개정안, 기독교인 박해 심화시켜
W_1120 A긴급기도
11월20일 긴급기도
kyle-cesmat-GzDCekFHOLI-unsplash
11월22일
스위스(Switzerland)
W_1122 A긴급기도
11월22일 긴급기도