Printed from: https://archive.cmf.org.uk/news/?id=145
On 23 September the Director of Public Prosecutions published the Guidelines on Assisted Suicide he had been ordered to produce after the Law Lords' decision on 30 July in the case of Debbie Purdy. CMF staff can be seen responding on national television. Care Not Killing, through whom CMF does most of its campaigning to prevent any change in the law which might lead to the deliberate ending of human life, has issued a press release.
We welcome the reassurances that the police must investigate 'all cases of assisted suicide', that 'the DPP cannot assure a person in advance of committing a crime that a prosecution will not be brought', and that 'only Parliament can change the law on assisted suicide'.
We are concerned though at the range of physical conditions considered as potentially relevant as they affect millions of people in Britain, and at the presumption that family members and others close to the patient are likely to be 'wholly motivated by compassion'. Detailed submissions will be made before the consultation deadline of 16 December.
Steven Fouch (CMF Head of Communications) 020 7234 9668
Alistair Thompson on 07970 162 225
Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) was founded in 1949 and is an interdenominational organisation with over 5,000 doctors, 900medical and nursing students and 300 nurses and midwives as members in all branches of medicine, nursing and midwifery. A registered charity, it is linked to over 100 similar bodies in other countries throughout the world.
CMF exists to unite Christian healthcare professionals to pursue the highest ethical standards in Christian and professional life and to increase faith in Christ and acceptance of his ethical teaching.
