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British Govt. Supports Euthanasia of Mentally Handicapped
LifeNews.com ^ | November 17, 2003 | Paul Nowak

Posted on 11/17/2003 3:15:45 PM PST by nickcarraway

London, England (LifeNews.com) -- While the current British government says it opposes euthanasia, it supports coming legislation that would legalize passive euthanasia, or euthanasia "by neglect" on mentally incapacitated adults.

A draft of the Mental Incapacity Bill is being prepared for presentation to Parliament. An attempt to clarify difficult medical and financial decisions for those unable to do so themselves as a result of illness or accident, it opens the door to starvation and dehydration of those suffering from dementia, stroke or traumatic brain injury, as well as other illnesses.

If passed, the Mental Incapacity Bill would be the first comprehensive law in the world to allow "euthanasia by neglect," and could require the denial of treatment to patients not in danger of death, and would force doctors and other health professionals to assist in the starvation or negligent death of those in their care.

Because the legislation defines medical 'treatment' as "includ[ing] a diagnostic or other procedure," decisions including tube-feeding, giving sedatives or pain-killers, and possibly spoon-feeding and turning immobile bed-bound patients, could be up to a government-appointed guardian, prior suicidal decisions by the patient, or anyone with "lasting powers of attorney."

As the decision could be made by one's spouse or government official it has the likelihood of creating situations like Terri Schiavo's, in which her husband has been trying to have her feeding tube removed in order to starve her to death.

The legislation would also place the "wishes and feelings" of the patient, even suicidal ones, above their medical needs and best interests.

"On Nov. 26, the government might put the draft Mental Incapacity Bill in the Queen's Speech, which announces what Bills the government plans for new legislation during the coming year," said the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) in a statement to its members and supporters. "If the Bill is in the Queen's Speech, legalized euthanasia by neglect is a step closer."

Scottish and Northern Ireland MPs will be allowed to vote on the bill, although it will only apply to England and Wales.

The bill has been gathering opposition from lawyers, doctors, and human rights groups.

Richard Gordon, a leading human rights lawyer, has concluded that the bill is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Dr. Philip Howard, a senior lecturer in medicine in London and consultant physician, has predicted that doctors and nurses will be criminalized or forced to leave their profession if they attempt to save the lives of suicidal patients.

"If the Mental Incapacity Bill becomes a new law it will be a very big step backwards for people with learning difficulties’ rights," said People First, a learning disability group.

"The Bill will affect every single person in this country," warned SPUC. "Everyone is vulnerable to accidents or illnesses that may cause mental incapacity."

Related web sites:

Society for the Protection of Unborn Children -- http://www.spuc.org.uk


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: britain; disabilities; england; euthanasia; freedon; government; ireland; prolife; righttolife; scotland
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1 posted on 11/17/2003 3:15:45 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: Lady In Blue; Canticle_of_Deborah; MarMema; kimmie7; floriduh voter; JulieRNR21; NautiNurse; ...
ping
2 posted on 11/17/2003 3:17:24 PM PST by nickcarraway (www.terrisfight.org)
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To: nickcarraway
Yep. First the infants. Then the terminally ill. Now the disabled. Who's next? Get in line.
3 posted on 11/17/2003 3:17:50 PM PST by concerned about politics ( So it is. Amen.)
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To: concerned about politics
Who's next?

Christians and Jews

4 posted on 11/17/2003 3:18:50 PM PST by nickcarraway (www.terrisfight.org)
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To: nickcarraway
Expect inheritance tax revenue to go up dramatically.
5 posted on 11/17/2003 3:19:30 PM PST by thoughtomator ("A republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: nickcarraway
"British Govt. Supports Euthanasia of Mentally Handicapped"

Man! That would eliminate most of the NBA.

6 posted on 11/17/2003 3:24:29 PM PST by Enterprise
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To: nickcarraway
When did we pass these laws in America? I certainly don't remember hearing about it.
7 posted on 11/17/2003 3:24:41 PM PST by stands2reason (What you see at fight club is a generation of men raised by women. ~Chuck Palahniuk)
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To: nickcarraway
Another perfectly logical result of the nanny state.
Nanny boo-boo.
8 posted on 11/17/2003 3:25:04 PM PST by Graymatter
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To: nickcarraway
can't fool me - the Big Socialized Medicine Industry just doesn't want to pay for their treatment!
9 posted on 11/17/2003 3:25:11 PM PST by Republicus2001
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To: Republicus2001
Stop terrorism, put all supporting that to sleep.
10 posted on 11/17/2003 3:30:16 PM PST by tessalu
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To: nickcarraway
Maybe Hitler's only problem was that he was ahead of his time. Just the fact that these measures are being seriously discussed makes me shiver.
11 posted on 11/17/2003 3:30:28 PM PST by Spok
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To: concerned about politics
British government supports euthanasia "by neglect" on mentally incapacitated adults.

Sheeesh... glad I don't live in Britian!!! But even here in America I experience "neglect"... and you all know that I must surely be "mentally incapacitated" (considering the responses to some of my posts)... but at least I'm not a Troll, eh??? ;-))

.

12 posted on 11/17/2003 3:32:15 PM PST by GeekDejure (<H3> Searching For The Meaning Of "Huge" Fonts !!!</H3>)
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To: nickcarraway
This was tried in Germany. One of the counts of murder in the Nazi Doctors Trials. The problem the nazi's had was that the staff would slip food to the patients. It screwed up their experiments on how long it takes to starve people to death. After a month, the SS was sent in and gave them all lethal injections. One interesting side fact. They had over a 1000 bodies when the SS departed. To facilitate the desposal, they developed ovens to incinerate the bodies. The same Doctor that developed the "efficient" oven, was later pegged to develope the ovens at the death camps.
13 posted on 11/17/2003 3:42:19 PM PST by marty60
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To: nickcarraway
Note to Sandra Day O'connor......
14 posted on 11/17/2003 3:42:31 PM PST by blackdog (Five clicks gets you 2600' of bright soft grass in the murkiness of night.)
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To: stands2reason
When did we pass these laws in America?

I'm not sure which law you are having a problem with. In the US a disabled person has a right to legal counsel (except when the next of kin is guardian). The 'guardian' is supposed to protect the injured party...unless the the 'guardian' has a conflict of interest. You do however have the 'right to die' and if you don't specify otherwise, all legal action will be taken to protect your 'right to privacy'...and you will die!!

My question... can I legally draw up a document that says I want to live???

15 posted on 11/17/2003 4:11:12 PM PST by Krodg
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To: nickcarraway
My mamma always told me that those that were born less fortunate than I, was a test of charactor, as to how those that were "normal" would treat them. Compassion or distain. I'll side with compassion.

blessings, bobo
16 posted on 11/17/2003 4:11:18 PM PST by bobo1
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To: nickcarraway
The Master Race Is Coming

Hooray

Hooray

The Master Is Coming

Today

Today
17 posted on 11/17/2003 4:11:57 PM PST by Pubbie ("Cheney is behind it all, The whole neo-conservative power vortex," - Chris Matthews)
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To: Pubbie
The Master Race Is Coming

Hooray

Hooray

The Master Race Is Coming

Today

Today
18 posted on 11/17/2003 4:12:24 PM PST by Pubbie ("Cheney is behind it all, The whole neo-conservative power vortex," - Chris Matthews)
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To: Krodg
My question... can I legally draw up a document that says I want to live???

.... my ex just did that!!!!!!

The document say's they are to try all and any means to keep him alive, and then he made the boy's sign it.

I can't figure out why he didn't ask me???

19 posted on 11/17/2003 4:28:57 PM PST by GrandMoM ("Without prayer, the hand of GOD stops, BUT, with prayer the hand of GOD moves !!!)
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To: nickcarraway
So does this have support from Labour, Conservatives, and the Liberals? Doesn't this fly in the face of all that crap they yell at us about because we still have the death penalty?
20 posted on 11/17/2003 4:31:48 PM PST by Democratshavenobrains
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