22 July 2015

News,

Top story:

Named Person wellbeing checks expose children to abuse

Scottish police have reported that wellbeing assessments are leaving vulnerable children exposed to abuse.  Wellbeing assessments are part of the new Named Person scheme due to come into force across Scotland next year. Under the plans, every child in Scotland will be assigned a “Named Person” who would perform the assessments. Police have identified the potential risk that wellbeing assessments could delay action in cases where evidence already exists of "abuse and or neglect deemed as criminal acts". As such, assessments could delay action and leave at-risk children exposed. A spokesman for campaign group No to Named Persons (NO2NP) said: “Named Persons, unlike social workers, are not experts in handling child abuse cases."  [Christian Institute, 20 July]

Locked-in syndrome man loses challenge over right to die

A man known only as “Martin” with locked-in syndrome has lost a High Court battle regarding his wish to be killed. His lawyers said that advice from the General Medical Council interfered with people who wanted to die. However, judges ruled that the current advice was lawful, referencing the fact that aiding and abetting suicide is a crime in the UK. [BBC News, 20 July]

UK:  Conservative's budget to institute ‘two-child policy’

The Conservative party's new budget will cap child tax credits at two children, it has been reported. George Osborne announced that parents who have more than two children after April 2017 are to be denied tax credits for these children. Associate professor of economics at the Catholic University of Dallas Dr. William Doyle criticised the announcement as "profoundly 'anti-life.'" SPUC's general secretary Paul Tully described relevant parts of the budget as an "economy-centred, anti-marriage, de-sexed, anti-family vision of society". [Life Site News, 17 July]

Pro-life group consider SNP role around “suicide for the English” 

The Times has reported that Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish National Party, may allow her MPs to vote on the Rob Marris Assisted Dying Bill. The Times describes this as part of a “war of attrition” over the way Scottish MPs in Westminster are treated by the UK government. Commenting, Paul Tully, SPUC General Secretary said: “The proposed law aims to allow doctors to give lethal doses so that their patients can kill themselves. The SNP numbers are significant and if they vote it could be important to the outcome of the bill. We know that Nicola Sturgeon personally opposed assisted suicide in Scotland and permitted a free vote for her party. It is most improbable that she would impose a party line at Westminster. We remain hopeful that MPs will oppose a law which would threaten the sick, disabled and elderly."  [Times (paper edition), 15 July]

Other stories:

Abortions

  • Northern Ireland: charges against pro-life campaigners dropped [BBC, 17 July]

Fertility

Family Issues

  • Angela Merkel says marriage is "between man and woman" but insists she supports equality [Express, 16 July]

Sexual Ethics

  • Republic of Ireland: Gender Recognition Act officially recognises chosen genders [News Talk, 15 July]

General

To subscribe to SPUC's email information services, please visit www.spuc.org.uk/em-signup. The reliability of the news herein is dependent on that of the cited sources, which are paraphrased rather than quoted. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the society. © Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, 2018

22 July 2015

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